Coquitlam RCMP are cautioning parents to "house proof" their kids the same way they teach them street smarts after a Mountie's family member recently encountered a potentially dangerous situation.
On a sunny afternoon, according to an RCMP press release, the 12-year-old boy was at home when the doorbell rang unexpectedly.
He answered the door to a "scruffy-looking" man in his 20s who was "fidgety" and acting strangely.
The man asked the boy to call him a taxi and, thinking he was being helpful, the boy went to the phone, leaving the front door wide open.
The boy's uncle, an off-duty police officer, was in the home and had heard the voice of a strange man, so he went to the door to investigate. The surprised visitor quickly left.
Coquitlam RCMP noted it's not known what the man wanted but "the consequences could have been potentially unthinkable had the uncle not intervened."
With kids and teens spending more time at home over the summer, police are offering these tips for parents to teach their kids:
Know who's on the other side of the door before you open it. If it's a stranger, keep the door locked.
If a stranger phones and asks your kids where you are, teach them to say something like, "My dad is sleeping, please call back later."
Make sure they can reach an adult at any time in case they have questions about safety and security.
If there is an emergency, make sure they know how to call 911 and what information they need to provide.
