An Important Message For Bucks County, PA
By Wyatt Earp | January 1, 2009
This is serious stuff kids, and for the women in particular. No snark, no comedy.
Please read this article is you live in the Bucks County area.
There is a predator on the loose.
A man wearing only a ski mask approached a girl on Winding Road in Springfield.
Springfield police reported that a man wearing only a ski mask approached a teenage girl as she was walking along Winding Road, east of Mink Road.
The girl told police that she had separated from a group of pedestrians when a silver Kia Sorrento SUV drove past her and then stopped a short distance ahead. She said the driver, who was completely naked except for the black ski mask, got out of the vehicle and stood there for about 15 seconds. He then got back into the SUV and drove east on Winding Road.
The girl told police the man was white, in his teens or early 20s, with a muscular build.
Police Chief Mark Laudenslager said his department would look into whether the indecent exposure in Springfield is related to a rash of similar incidents that occurred in Bucks County last month. In two of the incidents, the suspect was driving a gray or silver SUV.
This piece of detritus is described as a white male, between 20-30 years old. He has short hair and a muscular build with visible tan lines. Witnesses say he was driving a silver KIA Sorrento SUV:
A KIA Sorrento, similar to the one the predator is driving.
Apparently, the man is approaching women walking or jogging in the Bucks County area, so this would be a good time for a refresher course in personal safety.
1. Pay attention to your surroundings. If you’re walking, jogging, or cycling, by all means keep your eyes open and stay alert!
2. Turn off your iPod (or at least turn it down). If you can’t hear traffic, you can’t hear a predator coming up on you. If you must listen to music while you work out, do it at a very low volume. This is not just to protect against predators, but to protect yourself against traffic, dogs, and other outdoor safety hazards.
3. Always bring your cellphone! If someone approaches you, don’t hesitate. Dial 9-1-1 and get to an open, public area. If the person follows you, make as much noise as possible. Drawing attention to yourself at a time like this may save your life.
4. Finally, pay attention to suspicious persons and vehicles. If you see a silver KIA Sorrento, try and get the tag - or at least a partial tag. Believe me, it will help a lot - sometimes even more than a description. If you get the tag, keep repeating it over and over, or send yourself a text message with the tag info.
And obviously, if you see this tool, or someone fitting his description, call 9-1-1 immediately. (H/T - Local reader Jeffrey)
Topics: The Job |
January 1st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
How scary. If he has visible tan lines this time of year, he could be in landscaping or someone who spends a lot of time outside on a daily (or at least frequent) basis. That might be something to keep in mind, too.
That poor girl.
January 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Thank you for the valuable information. It’s good to know no matter where you live. I had a guy flash me in the drive through at Burger King. He shocked me so much I shorted him a cheese burger in his order.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Just as an aside, if I were into, uh, strutting my stuff, so to speak, I don’t think I’d do it in when it was in the 20s outside.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Good advice on both sides of the pond.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
CCW will fix this dude if he approaches the “wrong” person… Ladies, lock and load!
January 1st, 2009 at 6:46 pm
RT - It’s a shame she didn’t get the chance to whoop his ass.
Momster - In fairness, he just wanted to “have it his way.” Heh.
Prof - One word: Shrinkage.
Alan - Agreed.
Old NFO - It will certainly cure the guy of his issues.
January 1st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
For the record, I do not own a Kia Sorrento.
January 1st, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I am constantly lecturing the girls around here about jogging with their iPods blaring full speed. They say they like to escape while they are jogging. That is what I am afraid of… that they are going to escape when someone grabs them off the street.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Thanks for this post.
This is a point I try to make to people.
Beware of your surroundings.
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:38 am
If a women is approached unexpectedly by a naked man and she had a legally concealed weapon, would it be a “clean shoot” situation. I say no since the opportunity to run away was not exhausted first. But then again if you are surprised and it felt like a life threatening situation…
Any thoughts?
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
randall, we crossed you off the suspect list when the description called for someone with a muscular build.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 am
How weird is that. We had something very similar to that going on down here a few weeks back. I think the vehicle was a white pickup truck though.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Randal - Uh huh. Sure you don’t.
Deanna - They’re okay, as long as the volume is low enough for them to hear their surroundings.
Rick - Always. No exceptions.
Jeffrey - You would have to convince a judge and jury that you were in fear of your life. Of course, if the man rushes the person . . . Thanks for this story, btw.
Vincent - OUCH!
Marvin - It appears that sexual deviants span the globe.