Sheriff's office looking for man who tried to lure girl into his truck

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - The sheriff's office in Georgetown County is on the lookout for a man who tried to lure a girl into his truck in the Browns Ferry community.

According to a police report, this suspicious male reportedly approached a young girl riding on a golf cart near Francis Marion Road on July 15.

The older white male with salt and pepper hair and A "pop belly" was driving a silver GMC truck when he approached the girl, investigators say. He had his hands behind his back and said, "Come here. I got something to show you," according to investigators.

The girl drove away from the man and told a parent about him. They in turn reported the incident to police.

The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office offered these suggestions to keep your kids safe when they encounter strangers:

1. Tell your child that unless they have been given specific permission by you, it is never ok to go away with an adult or child under any circumstances.
2. Never approach a stranger in a motor vehicle.
3. If a stranger grabs you, kick, bite, hit, scream, and do whatever it takes to stop him or her from pulling you away or dragging you into his or her car and attract the attention of others who can help.
4. If you choose to leave your child home alone, instruct them to not open the door for anyone.
5. Never leave young children unattended in public.
6. Make sure your children know their name, address and phone number.
7. Tell your child to use the buddy system. Avoid walking anywhere alone.
8. If a stranger approaches you, you do not have to speak to him or her. Just keep walking or run from the stranger. Do not accept candy or other items from a stranger.
9. Keep a recent photo of your child, their fingerprints and other medical information in an ID kit. Visit the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office to pick up a kit provided by the National Child Identification Program.

If you spot someone matching the description given of the suspect, you can anonymously text the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office using Text-A-Tip. Just dial 274637 from any text enabled cell phone, and text the word "GCSOTIP" followed by your message.

This service is for crime tips ONLY, not for the reports of crimes in progress. For crimes in progress, dial 911. Non-emergency calls can also be made to 843-546-5101.

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