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11-year-old girl approached by stranger in Burnaby

Burnaby RCMP is investigating a suspicious incident after an 11-year-old girl was approached by a man shortly after 3 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the area of Piper Avenue.
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Burnaby RCMP is investigating a suspicious incident after an 11-year-old girl was approached by a man shortly after 3 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the area of Piper Avenue.

The man tried to speak to the girl but she ran away and returned to her school to tell her principal and call police, according to an RCMP press release.

Police said they can’t confirm the man’s intentions but wanted to make the public aware of the incident as a precautionary measure.

"Parents should always be vigilant about their child’s safety," Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Daniela Panesar stated in a press release, "and this is a good opportunity for parents to talk to kids about being safe."

Police described the man as Asian, five feet five inches with a large build and between 36 and 40 years old.

He had black hair with bangs, was wearing blue jeans and walked with a limp.

École Seaforth Elementary alerted staff to the incident and posted an advisory on the school’s website Thursday.

Principal Wendell Hiltz urged parents to review safety precautions, including travelling in groups, staying in well-supervised areas, calling 911 in case of an emergency and telling an adult immediately if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

“The Burnaby RCMP is investigating this incident and we will share further information should it become available,” he wrote. “Student and staff safety is always our priority.”

Police, meanwhile, would like to speak to anyone that may have witnessed the incident or knows anything about the alleged suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burnaby RCMP at 604-294-7922 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477 (TIPS).