Police presence in school zones to increase after 2 incidents

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign police are asking parents and students to be vigilant after two “stranger danger” incidents near Franklin Middle School this month.

Lt. Nate Rath said on April 19 at around 7:10 a.m. a man in a vehicle approached a 13-year-old female student near Market and Bradley. The man asked the girl if she needed a ride and asked for her phone number.

Around 7:20 a.m. today near Harris and Sherwood, a male driver asked a 14-year-old girl to come to his vehicle.

The suspect in both incidents is a Hispanic man in his mid-20s, medium build and driving a small silver or grey four-door vehicle, police say.

 If you have information call police at 217-351-4545 or Crime Stoppers at 373-TIPS.

Rath said extra officers will be in Champaign school zones for the next few days.