A mother is calling for children to be aware of stranger danger after her young daughter was approached by a man who tried to lure her into his van near a Wellington school this afternoon.
She said the incident occurred around 20 minutes after the school bell rang today in Newlands.
Police confirmed it had received a report that a person in a vehicle had stopped and spoken to a young person around 3.20pm near Pukehuia Park.
"Police conducted area inquiries to try and locate the vehicle, however it was not found."
The girl's mother told 1News she was "angry and scared" when her daughter told her what had happened.
"My daughter was approached by an old man in a black van who said she had dropped something and that he has it in his van," she said.
"She didn't believe him and ran straight away to someone she knew."
The mother said the family go over scenarios "all the time" about what strangers could say to get them close to a car.
"We even do the same with our 12-year-old son. Never engage and think you can overpower them – just get to safety first."
She suggested children stay on main roads and walk with a group or with friends.
"At the first sign of something feeling off or not right, run to someone you trust or a shop."
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