A man who may have followed two schoolchildren around in Wanaka has caused ripples of concern within the community.
Police said the incident in the Tenby St area about 4pm on Thursday had worried parents and the children involved, as well as sparking commentary in social media locally.
Detective Bryan Gillespie said the man involved had not yet been identified.
It was "possible or probable" that his actions were completely innocent, but police would like to speak with him to clarify.
The man was described as 35 to 40 years' old with dark hair in a swept fringe. He was wearing aviator-type sunglasses, navy blue baggy jeans, and was holding on to empty New World plastic bags.
Mr Gillespie called on the man, or anyone who knew who he was, to contact the local police station on 03 443 7272.
A previous incident in the Mataraki Place area had resulted in Wanaka police increasing overt and covert patrols in the area on a daily basis for an extended period to ensure no harm came to children.
"We take any potential threat to children seriously but any actions need to be tempered and appropriate for the level of actual risk or threat," Mr Gillespie said.
"Comment in social media around getting informal parental patrols is not helpful. Any such group would need to be sanctioned by the schools and police, and the persons involved appropriately vetted among other things."
Police reiterated safety messages for children coming home from school, including:
* Encouraging them to walk with friends
* Making sure younger children are accompanied by older siblings or relatives
* Calling police if they see anyone they did not know following them or acting suspiciously
* Considering the use of a safe word or words should an adult unknown to your children have to pick them up
* Speaking with adults they do know, including teachers, coaches or friends parents if they do not feel safe or need help
NZME.
