Second Stranger-Danger Incident Reported by West Islip Student

For the second time within a week a stranger approached a West Islip student while walking home from school and district officials issued a letter today warning parents to remind students to be safe in such situations.

In a letter posted Thursday on the school website, school officials state that the student was walking home on Sequams Lane when an older Hispanic male, with a thick accent and driving a work white van,  tried to engage her in conversation.

The van has a small circle window, was tinted on the driver’s side window and had a scuff mark on the rear bumper, according to the district's letter. The license plate of the vehicle was reported to be BXY1101.

The student ran to a neighbor’s house, the police were notified, and a canvass of the area was conducted. 

The letter includes several safety tips and precautions that officials want parents to share with their children.

"It is imperative that we provide children with the information and support they need to handle any potentially dangerous situation. Following and reinforcing the guidelines set forth will help promote a safer community for all," states the letter.

The first incident, as reported on Patch, involved a black male in his 40s driving an olive green Pathfinder.