In light of attempted kidnapping in Greenfield, police talk ‘stranger danger’ at school

A Greenfield police officer is spending his day inside a classroom at Cesar Chavez Elementary School after an attempted kidnapping at another school in Greenfield.

Earlier this week, a man tried to lure a girl inside his car outside of Oak Avenue Elementary.

It’s one of three similar incidents on the Central Coast in recent weeks. On Thursday, a man grabbed a sixth grader on her way to school at Shoreline Middle School in Santa Cruz. And on February 10, a man tried to lure a 12-year-old boy inside a car.

One elementary school in Greenfield is trying to be proactive and keep kids safe.

Officer Daniel Sotello is visiting all the classrooms at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Greenfield to teach kids about “stranger danger.” This includes things like spotting a good stranger from a bad one and what to do if a stranger tries to lure them with candy, a puppy or an emergency situation.

“He gave the students some tools, some responses like “Yell and tell, run and tell,”” Cesar Chavez Elementary School Principal Paddy Douglas said.

It’s becoming a family occurrence on the Central Coast.

“It’s not something specifically happening in Greenfield, it’s something happening everywhere,” Sotello said.

There have been three incidents in the month of February. One of those is hitting particularly close to the close-knit community. On Monday, an Oak Avenue Elementary School student said she was approached by a man who tried to lure her into his car. Authorities say she did the right thing by saying no and telling an adult.

The district sent a letter home with students and it’s sparking conversations about safety.

“If somebody told you to do that (get into a car), then to run and tell an adult,” third-grader Itzel Jimenez said.

Officer Sotello recommends having a plan in case of an actual emergency, if someone who doesn’t normally pick up your child has to.

“We want to make sure they do talk about things like this,” Sotello said. “Like maybe having a password. Something that they know if their mom was hurt or dad was hurt and they send someone that they do have a password or something that makes it significant that they do know their parents.”

You can find more tips from the National Crime Prevention Council here.