Vigilance Urged After 'Stranger Danger' Incident

A man offered a ride to a seventh grade student while she was waiting for her school bus in the Silvermine area around 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to an e-mail that New Canaan Public Schools Superintendent David Abbey sent to parents.

The man, who is described as a white male with short dark hair, was traveling alone in a dark, four-door sedan when he stopped and rolled down his car window to talk to the student. The student said, "no thank you," and the man continued driving at a normal speed into Norwalk.

The student then called her mother from the bus to report what happened, and the mother in turn called police with the details she got from talking to her daughter.

"The student did the right thing by talking to her mom," said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc.

Ogrinc says incidents like this are infrequent in New Canaan, but she urges residents to be vigilant when they do happen.

"Do your best to get a description. Call us right away. Try to get a plate number," she said.

Saxe Middle School principal Greg Macedo has re-enforced Sgt. Ogrinc's message by reviewing "Stranger Danger" response guidelines with the student body and forwarding those tips to parents.

New Canaan Police are investigating Wednesday's incident.