The Hollister Police Department announced today it is alerting
residents and parents in the area of Marguerite Maze Middle School
of suspicious activity reports. Two separate incidents involving
students reporting they had been followed home.
The Hollister Police Department announced today it is alerting residents and parents in the area of Marguerite Maze Middle School of suspicious activity reports.
The first incident was reported to police on Jan. 25, according to a press release from the HPD. Four students at Maze Middle School reported that three days earlier, they were walking home from school in the area of Meridian Street and Memorial Drive when they saw a car appearing to follow them. As they crossed the street, the lone male driving the car asked if the girls needed a ride, according to police.
The girls reported to police they ignored the man and kept walking as he drove away. They later saw the same car drive by them on Meridian Street, this time with two passengers, police allege. The driver was described as an overweight, white male, with dirty-blond hair and green eyes, according to police. He was wearing a brown shirt. The car was described as a tan or gold Mercury.
The second incident was reported to police on Monday. As in the first incident, a female student at Maze Middle School reported that she had been followed on her way home three days earlier, according to police.
The girl reported seeing a car following slowly behind her, according to the statement. She went to her residence in the area of Loma Vista and Valley View roads. After a short time, she then went to a relative’s home nearby and reported what had happened, according to police.
A person from that house went to the girl’s house and a saw a man attempting to enter her house through an interior garage door. When the man noticed he was being observed, he ran from the house and entered the passenger side of a vehicle, according to police. The vehicle then drove away.
The man was described only as a male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses and black pants. The hood on the sweatshirt was raised. The vehicle was described as a black and tan Toyota sport utility vehicle.
Both incidents were reported days after they occurred and highlight the need for immediate reporting. Parents are urged to go over safety procedures with their children and are encouraged, when possible, to walk with their children to and from school, according to police.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is requested to phone School Beat Officer Carlos Rodriguez at 636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTIP at (800) 78-CRIME.
