BROOKINGS – A child reported being approached by someone offering a ride, and Brookings Police are asking for help finding those responsible.

The incident was reported at 5:41 p.m. Wednesday, Lt. Marci Gebers said.

“There was a … 11-year-old juvenile who had reported a vehicle had approached him near the intersection of 20th Street South and Council Ridge Road. An individual inside the vehicle had rolled down the passenger side window and yelled out to him that they knew his parents and would give him a ride home, which he declined,” Gebers said.

“The vehicle then made a U-turn in the road and traveled west from that intersection. The vehicle and the individual are unknown at this time,” Gebers said.

The vehicle was described as a black, four-door car “with dark-tinted windows, a scratch on the front passenger door and it had rims on it, different rims,” Gebers said.

“There was no description of the individual or individuals that would have been inside the vehicle,” she added.

“If anyone else has encountered a situation similar to this, please contact us and let us know. If there’s any individuals in that neighborhood who have video surveillance or if they would have witnessed a vehicle matching this description in the area there, if they could please contact us, so we can continue with our investigation,” Gebers said.

“This young man did a good job by going home and reporting this to his parents,” Gebers said.

She had some advice for kids and parents.

“I think it’s always good for kids to be with other individuals when they’re out and about, whether it’s an adult or if there’s multiple kids, just as long as they’re not walking by themselves,” Gebers said.

“And then obviously, for their parents to know where they’re going and being able to have an open line of communication with their parents in case something like this does happen so they know they can report these things to their parents or an adult,” Gebers said.