We are now up to five reported incidents of strangers offering rides to kids in the past week.

And it's leaving students and their parents on edge.

For Rick Jackson, the idea of one of his daughters being snatched by a stranger sends chills down his spine, but his worst fear has become some parent's nightmare.

Five reported incidents of strangers offering rides to children on their way to school, has shaken the community since Monday evening.

"I tell you, it makes you want to grab your kids and hold onto them, that's for sure. The main thing is to make sure you're aware of where your kids are at all times," says concerned parent Rick Jackson.

Two more incidents were reported to Leon County Sheriff's Office Thursday.

A 14-year-old girl says she was approached by a man in a dark blue mini van near Tim Tam Trail and Whirlaway Trail Wednesday morning.

A 12-year-old girl also reported being approached Wednesday morning while she walked to school near Miccosukee Road and Marion Avenue.

That's when a vehicle, possibly a Grey Dodge Charger, pulled up next to her and the driver, said "come here."

Excluding the first incident reported at Gilchrist Elementary Monday night, some commonalities have been found.

Kids have been walking alone to school or a bus stop between 8:35 AM and 9:00 AM.

In three of the incidents, the suspects did not use force but asked the children if they needed or wanted a ride.

In two of them, a dark blue van with a white male driver, in his late 20's with dark "spiked" hair was reported.

"I think in wanting to protect our kids, we're not telling them a lot of things. Unfortunately, if our kids aren't afraid, then a stranger's going to come up to and say 'hey, you want a ride' and they're going to get in," says concerned parent Loni Gillis.

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LEON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE: 11/05/09

LCSO Continues to Investigate Suspicious Incidents Reported by Leon County School Students.

As previously reported the Leon County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating two recent reports from children in reference to criminal and suspicious incidents while walking to a school bus stop or while walking to school. Today, Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies received two additional reports from school children in reference to unknown subjects who attempted to offer a ride or engage in conversation.

According to a 12yoa female she was walking to school Wednesday morning at approximately 9:10AM, in the area of Miccosukee Road and Marion Avenue, when a vehicle pulled up next to her and an unknown subject said “come here”. The child did not look at the driver, ran away and reported this incident to the Cobb Middle School Resource Deputy. The child reported the vehicle may have been a Grey Dodger Charger.

In another incident reported today to the Montford Middle School Resource Deputy, a 14yoa female stated that on Wednesday morning, between 8:35AM and 8:50AM, she walking to her bus stop in the area of Tim Tam Trail and Whirlaway Trail when an unknown subject asked if she needed or wanted a ride. When the child refused the unknown subject asked again and again the teen refused, after which the subject left the area.

The subject is described as a white male, late 20’s, black spiked hair and wearing sunglasses.

The subject was driving a dark blue mini van with tinted windows.

An analysis of these incidents, and the incidents reported to the Leon County Sheriff’s yesterday, has revealed some commonalities. Each reported incident occurred as children were walking alone to school or a school bus stop. Each reported incident occurred in the morning hours between 8:35AM and 9:00AM. In three of the incidents the unknown subjects did not use force and asked the children if they needed or wanted a ride. In addition, two the incidents involved a dark blue van with a white male driver, in his late 20’s with dark “spiked” hair.

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a through investigation of each of these reported incidents and has shared this information with Leon County Schools, the Tallahassee Police Department and other local and state law enforcement agencies.

Deputies have increased patrols in the area around schools and are monitoring bus stops. These patrols are being conducted in marked and un-marked vehicles. Anybody that may have any information about these incidents or recogiznies the description of any of the subjects is asked to contact the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300

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LEON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE: 11/04/04

LCSO Investigating Suspicious Incidents Involving Leon County Students
This morning at approximately 9:00AM, Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Sand Trail in reference to a 14yoa girl who reported an unknown man had grabbed her by the arm as she walked to her bus stop.

The teen reported she had just crossed Ballard Road from Sand Trail Lane, when a vehicle stopped next to her.

The vehicle was traveling north and the driver pulled up next to the girl. The unknown driver spoke to the girl through the vehicle’s passenger side window and asked if she wanted or needed a ride.

The teen leaned into the vehicle and told the driver she did not want a ride, at which point the subject grabbed the girl by her arm and told her to get in the vehicle. The teen reported she was able to escape the subject’s grasp and ran home to report this incident to her mother.

The teen described the suspect vehicle as a black, 4-door with rust around the edge of the hood. The driver is described as a black male, late 20’s or early 30’s, wearing a black shirt with a white shirt underneath and a diamond stud earring in his left ear. Violent Crimes Detectives have interviewed the child and Deputies have canvassed the area for suspects or witnesses.

In an unrelated incident, an 11yoa boy reported today that yesterday morning at approximately 8:35AM, he was walking in the 1700 block of Copperfield Circle when a vehicle pulled next to him and an unknown subject asked him if he needed a ride. The child told the stranger he did not need a ride and the subject left the area. The child described the vehicle as a large, dark blue van with no windows on the back. The driver is described as a small white male, with black spiked hair short on the sides, big ears and pale skin.

Violent Crimes Detectives ask anybody that may have any information about these incidents to contact the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300.