A 9-year-old boy who was almost abducted from outside an Auckland school on Monday was walking home alone unaccompanied for the first time.
A stranger allegedly tried to force the boy into a car outside Rowandale School before bystanders intervened and the man drove off.
Principal Karl Vasau said it was the first time the child had convinced his parents to let him make his way home unobserved.
“What was really sad is that this was the first day that he convinced his parents to let him walk home by themselves, and what a horrible experience to have on that first day,” Vasau told Breakfast.
“They usually wait up on the corner and watch him walk home but thought ‘no you’re a big boy now, let’s do this’. So for us it’s about making sure those types of parenting things still happen.
“It’s still safe out there to walk to and from school, and with these isolated, very rare incidents we just have to be prepared for those.”
Vasau said the boy then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let teachers know and then called police.
Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa.
“Police are still working to understand exactly what was occurring at the time and our enquiries are ongoing,” a spokesperson said.
“We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process, given he is a young person.”
Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau told Breakfast teachers will have open discussions with the children today about what happened. (Source: Breakfast)
Vasau told 1News the pupil was “doing fine” following the incident and was surrounded by a “supportive, loving family”.
“Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe. It’s about working with that child to make them feel safe again, but also looking forward to returning back to school with a little bit of normality.”
Police had reacted “pretty quickly” to the reports, he said.
“They’ve been in this morning to touch base and connect, the community police constables are going to come back to tomorrow to address the whole school in relation to what had happened and around keeping themselves safe before and after school.”
Increased police patrols would remain in the area after school from Wednesday, he added.
Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.