Bobby and Tina McDonald live blocks from Travis Intermediate and Sam Houston Elementary, where they walk their children to and from school every day.
"We've discussed with them, if anyone even stops in front of the house, you run inside unless you know them personally," said Tina.
They, like many parents, are hearing for the first time about a strange man following a nine-year-old girl home. Conroe police say the girl was dropped off by the school bus when a middle-aged man driving a two-toned Chevy truck followed her, asking her name. The girl says she didn't respond and ran away.
The school district says the man directed inappropriate comments at the little girl.
"It was awful when I was in school," said parent Tina Wagers. "These days with kids, especially girls, being out at any bus stop or any street, you've got to be really careful."
Tina Wagers says she always talks to her kids about keeping a close eye on their surroundings, something we all are guilty of ignoring from time to time.
"Texting or anything like that and they're not paying attention and somebody catches them off guard and they're gone," she said.
On Monday, a Lamar Fleming Middle School student in northeast Houston told HISD police he was walking to school when a man grabbed him and tried to kidnap him.
"I always talk to her, don't talk to strangers," said parent Ruth Romero.
While the discussions have been had, Ruth thinks now is a good time for a refresher with her nine-year-old daughter.
"I'm going to talk to her about this," she said.
The interesting thing about this case is the girl told police she's seen this two-toned Chevy pickup before driving around her neighborhood. Police are not linking the two incidents, but they are upping patrols around the schools and neighborhoods and are actively searching for the suspect.
You can read more on this alert in the Courier of Montgomery County, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners.
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