A primary school in Adelaide has come under fire for failing to promptly inform families about an abduction attempt involving a female student, who was approached by a man luring her with the promise of puppies on her way to school. The incident has ignited political criticism over the delayed communication, with parents not being notified for more than a week.
Incident Details and Initial Response
The Glenelg Primary student was reportedly approached by an unknown man who attempted to entice her into his vehicle using the offer of puppies. The encounter, which occurred on June 11, is currently under investigation by South Australia Police. The school did not alert families until Monday, a full 11 days later, through a letter stating that "the man did not physically engage with the student."
One parent, speaking to 7NEWS, expressed shock: "It's really horrible to hear… I thought this was a safe neighbourhood." Another mother, Geraldine, said, "I felt really scared for my kids."
Political and Community Backlash
The delay has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Shadow Education Minister Heidi Girolamo stated, "A week and a half is far too long, and that definitely needs to be resolved." Education Minister Lucy Hood acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, telling parliament, "I think incidents like these are incredibly concerning… it is important that information is provided to the community quickly."
The Education Department issued a statement acknowledging it should have been clearer about why the alert was sent so late, explaining that it only issued a school-wide message to prevent the spread of misinformation. Some parents argued they should have been informed sooner, while others believed the school acted appropriately once it had confirmed the facts. Geraldine noted, "There could've been reasons why they notified us so late."
Ongoing Police Investigation
Teachers have since reinforced stranger-danger messages to students. Police have not yet obtained a description of the suspect and are urging anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to come forward. The incident remains under investigation.
