Children are told from an early age to beware of strangers.
After two Fulton Middle School students were approached by a strange man asking them to get into his car -- neither girl complied with the request and both made it home safely -- Wednesday, the Fulton Police Department is cautioning Callaway County parents to revisit that message with their children.
Major Roger Rice with the FPD, who also serves as the school resource officer, said the two female middle school students -- whom he said were not walking together, but were near one another -- were walking home from school on Oct. 13 when the incident occurred.
"A gentleman rolled up in his vehicle and asked the first girl if she wanted a ride home, and she said no, so he rolled on to the next girl and asked her if she wanted a ride, and she also said no," Rice said, noting the man also asked "if they wanted to make some money."
Both youths proceeded home where they immediately told their parents about the disturbing incident, and the parents then contacted police.
Rice said officers responding to the scene were unable to locate anyone, but they have developed a person of interest. He said he could not provide further details beyond the fact the individual in question does not have any sort of record.
"If I said it was a gray car, every time people see a gray car around the schools, they'll call us or start questioning people," Rice said. "We're trying to avoid a panic because there's no reason to panic."
Although there have been similar calls to the police department from time to time, he said most often those reports turn out to be parent abductions, or children frightened by something that ended up not being a threat.
"This one steps up to raise the concern level because he asked them to get into the car," Rice said, adding the man did not make any threats. "We always try to err on the side of caution."
Although patrols have been stepped up near all Fulton schools, he said the main focus for now should be on the two girls and encouraging area parents to use this as a chance to educate their own children.
"The biggest thing is the two girls did a great job -- they did exactly what they were supposed to do," Rice said. "We want to use this as an opportunity to remind everyone to have that stranger talk with their kids."
He urged parents to remind their children if they are walking home for school, or anywhere, to always make sure they are not alone, be aware of their surroundings and if something doesn't feel right, to go get help as soon as possible.
"Everybody needs to be on their toes. People need to be very mindful that just because Fulton is a small town doesn't mean it can't happen, because it can."