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This time it was just a friendly old man and his dog.
On Wednesday, Southampton Town Police put out a special alert warning local parents after two kids riding bikes in East Quogue were approached by a stranger.
“We are urging parents and guardians to speak with their children regarding interactions with strangers and safety precautions,” the alert said.
The man, behind the wheel of a gray car, asked the youngsters if they wanted to see his dog. Patrols in the area were immediately increased.
On Thursday, cops pushed out another alert — an update of Wednesday’s notification: After investigating, detectives determined the encounter was non-criminal.
“The man has no criminal history and is a longtime member of the community,” police said.
The man simply tried to exchange pleasantries and offer a peek at his small dog, authorities said. The children responded appropriately, declined, and went home safely, police said in the update, “as all youths should do when approached by an unknown person.”
Authorities said the incident is a perfect reminder for families to have their children say no, go away, and tell a trusted adult if a stranger approaches.
Top photo: by Neda Vidakovic on Unsplash (The photo illustrates an elderly man driving a car, but does include anyone related to the subjects of this article).
