Police issue a “stranger danger” warning after an incident in a shopping center

Barrie police are reminding residents – especially women and girls – to be extra careful after a complaint at Georgian Mall on Tuesday evening.

“Any unknown person who approaches you at any location should be wary of what is going on,” Barrie Police Communications Coordinator Peter Leon said. “What matters is that they are strangers.

“No matter how old or how young you are, the advice is pretty simple and should be simple for people. There is no way you get involved with this person,” he added.

In an online post on the Barrie Concerned Citizen's Group Facebook page, Haley Morrison said a “strange man” with a white notepad approached her at the North End Mall and told her he was in was in a “strange situation” and asked her to go with him to his car.

“(He) told me it would only take 30 seconds and he would give me $20… I told him I had an appointment and had to go and he then told me it would be quick, but I left so quick I was able to get away. I also saw him do this to other women right in front of me,” she said in her post.

Morrison also says she immediately shared the interaction with guest services and also notified city police.

“I just wanted to make it clear that this is happening and while it may not have been anything serious, it is still alarming that he only targeted women and didn't ask men for help,” she wrote. “Be safe out there, ladies.”

Leon says it is always “the right thing” to inform security of any incident that a person finds concerning.

“She gave a description that is excellent. It was investigated by mall security and they moved him along,” he said. “She did everything right and we applaud her for her actions.

“Obtaining a very detailed description would certainly have helped mall security to locate the person and move on,” Leon added. “There appeared to be a legitimate reason for him reaching out to her, but it was not necessarily based on the reasons he had originally shared with her.”

People simply need to be cautious and aware of their surroundings at all times, he said, especially when approached by someone unknown to them.

“This person did everything right. She went back to the mall. She spoke to the office that provided the office, who notified security, and then the police were also notified. It’s important for us to know because it depends on people’s safety.”