Full Notification

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating a child-annoying incident that occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. on December 13, 2018 in the area of N. San Marcos Road near University Drive. An eight-year-old Foothill Elementary School student was walking home alone after being released from school. While walking in the 300 block of N. San Marcos Rd., a female suspect, approximately 30 to 50 years old, approached the girl in a late model, silver-colored 4-door sedan, possibly a Honda or Toyota. The suspect had shoulder length blond hair that was partially shaved in the back, above the neck. The suspect asked the student to get in her car. The student, realizing this was a potentially dangerous situation, immediately ran away. The suspect was last seen turning westbound onto University Dr. from N. San Marcos Rd.

The incident was reported to the Sheriff’s Office yesterday, December 16, 2018 and is under investigation. The Sheriff’s Office has been working closely with the Goleta Union School District regarding this incident. If you have any information that would assist investigators, you are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 805-683-2724 or call our Anonymous Tip-Line at 805-681-4171. You can also go to our website at https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages parents of young children to reinforce the importance of creating space between themselves and any stranger that may attempt to contact them. Additionally, any suspicious encounter between a young child and any stranger should be immediately reported to law enforcement.

We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage parents to have discussions with their children about how to best protect themselves at home, going to and from school, while they are out and about and on their phones or on the internet. Please take a moment to review the “25 Ways to Make Kids Safer” from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We recommend printing this document and putting in a place in your house where you are reminded all year long about these important, potentially life-saving tips.