Children across Perth are being warned not to talk to strangers after a worrying incident on Monday evening.
A man approached a group of youngsters playing at Craigie Park on Glenearn Road between 6.30pm and 8pm and offered to give them a brand new bike which, he said, was in the back of his car parked nearby.
Despite none of the group taking him up on his offer, the man continued to speak with them for about five minutes, before leaving in a black car.
A police spokesman praised the children for their actions, saying they had done “exactly the right thing”.
He said, “Any child who is approached by a stranger that asks them to go somewhere with them, or who offers them something for free, should respond in exactly the same way as the children did on this occasion.
“They should refuse an tell and adult they know about what has happened at the first opportunity.
“It’s possible there was no sinister motive behind this man’s behaviour, but we want to speak with him to ensure this is the case.”
The man is described as being aged around 40, six feet tall and thin, with short brown or black hair that may have been curly.
He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, thought to be grey, and he spoke with a local accent.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0300 111 2222.