Stranger Danger at Local Elementary School

On Thursday, La Jolla Elementary School Principal Donna Tripi sent a message to parents alerting them that a female stranger handed out candy to children on campus. This stranger called children over to the gate, handed out candy and told them “god was in the containers,” according to school officials. Tripi sent out a message to parents, as did Muirlands Middle School on Saturday.

Tripi's Message to Parents

(Thursday) morning some of our children were on the blacktop area around the upper grade building for a class. Some of them were beckoned over to the gate by a stranger. The woman began handing them plastic cupcake and animal containers filled with sealed candy and telling them that God was in the containers. The teacher immediately went over to the gate and told the children to come away and that they needed to return to the lower campus. She collected all of the items. The woman got back into her car after making some strange noises, e.g. Woohoo, and left.

Officer Ross, the site officer at La Jolla High School, came to our campus and took a description of the woman. He will be canvassing the area to find out more about the woman. I will report anything more that I find out. I have also notified the principals of all the local public and private schools to alert them.

We have a locked campus and no one is able to enter the campus during the school day. We also never have students anywhere on campus without adult supervision.

The woman was thin, well-dressed (had on a suit with a skirt), platinum blond, blue eyes, and perfect make-up. She was in her late 40s/early 50s. She got out of a deep red metallic Corvette with a bag full of goodies for the kids. There was music playing loudly in the car.

If you see anyone matching this description in the area, please contact School Police, or me at 619-291-7678 and leave the information for Officer Ross. It would also be helpful to reinforce safe practices regarding strangers with your children.