News

Parents urged to warn about stranger risks

PARENTS and carers are being urged by the head of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad to have conversations with their children about the risks of connecting online with people they don’t know.

Commander, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec says social media is wonderful tool to stay connected with friends and loved ones, but the platforms also provide opportunities for those not known to us to initiate communication – and this includes strangers talking to our children.
“It is so important that we remind children, that meeting with people they have only communicated with in an online environment, puts them at extreme risk.
“We know the online environment is used by sexual predators to target children, so it is imperative that all young people know what to do if they are exposed to explicit or inappropriate conversations.”
He also reminded everyone to be careful about providing personal details on social media, especially to someone they only know online, and take extreme caution if making plans to meet up – consider whether you really know who it is you are meeting.

Bystanders foil thieves
TWO men have been charged after a ride-share driver was allegedly assaulted and robbed at Stanmore early last Sunday.
Inner West Police were called to the intersection of Parramatta Road and Bridge Street about 1.15am and were told two passengers in a ride-share Camry allegedly hit the driver and stole cash before running from the vehicle.
Several men intervened and the passengers were tackled and held until police arrived.
Two men, both aged 26, one from Surry Hills and the other from Sydney, have each been charged with one count of rob in company.