POLICE are appealing for public assistance following in incident at Murwillumbah where a boy was grabbed on the arm by an unknown man in a car.

Detectives are investigating the incident which is claimed to have taken place at about 1.30pm last Friday.

A 14-year-old boy told police he was riding his scooter along Murwillumbah St, near Nullum St, when a black Land Cruiser stopped near him.

He said as he went to pass the 4WD, a man in the back seat of the vehicle opened the car door, reached out and grabbed him by the arm.

The passenger has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged about 30, with brown hair, wearing a sleeveless red top.

The boy told police as he pulled his arm free, the vehicle drove away. The vehicle was described as a late-model, black Land Cruiser with a spare wheel on the back, but no rear number plate.

Detectives from the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command were alerted to the incident the following day and are now calling for witnesses to contact Tweed Heads Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The incident also prompted police to encourage parents to discuss the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including:

• Make sure your parents or another adult you know knows where you are at all times.
• Always walk straight home or to the place you are walking to. Walk near busier roads and streets or use paths where there are lots of people.
• Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are ever frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police.
• Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust.
• Don’t talk to people you don’t know and never get into a car with someone you don’t know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you don’t know the person inside, do not stop.
• If you are scared and can use a phone, call 000 and tell them you are scared. If someone tries to grab you, yell out, ‘Go away, I don’t know you’. This lets other people know you have been approached by someone you don’t know.