Police say they are aware of a man who has randomly been trying to get into people’s cars in Shepparton in recent weeks, and have a suggestion of what to do.
Many Shepparton residents have said the man has approached them in different parts of Shepparton while they have been stopped at places such as traffic lights, car parks and a car wash, asking for a ride somewhere.
In some cases, he has tried to open car doors and get inside in what some people it has happened to have described as a “scary” experience where they didn’t feel safe.
In other cases, he has gotten in their cars and had them drive him places.
When approached by The News asking what police knew of the incidents, Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Warden said police “were aware” that it was happening and encouraged people who had the man get in their vehicle or felt scared of him, to call 000.
“Police will respond,” he said.
“This is not okay.
“The behaviour is not within public expectations.
“It doesn’t matter if people say he’s harmless, if you are in fear, call 000.”
Act Sen Sgt Warden said police were working with mental health staff and other agencies to get the man support.
He said the man had “popped up on their radar” again in the past few weeks.
He said if people reported what was happening by calling 000, police could act.
“We have powers under the Mental Health Act,” he said.
Act Sen Sgt Warden said no matter who it was who had approached them — whether it was this man or anyone else — if people felt unsafe, they should always call 000.
One woman told how the man opened her passenger door when she was stopped at the traffic lights on the corner of St George’s Rd and Benalla Rd and asked for a lift down the street to toilets.
She said no to several requests for a lift before screaming “no, get out” at the man as the lights turned green, and he stepped back from the vehicle.
A young woman said she had come across the man at the car wash in Hawdon St.
The man put his hands on the P-plater’s window and asked for a ride, which she said shook her up.
“I was already paranoid and now I am so much more on edge after that experience,” she said.
Another woman, in her 30s, told how the man banged on her windscreen “acting like he wanted me to stop” as she approached the Knight St and Hawdon St intersection in her car.
She told how he attempted to pull the handle to open the car door, but it was locked.
The woman was able to drive off, but she said as she was driving the man was still banging on her door and then attempted to stand in front of her car, but she managed to drive around him.
The woman said her young daughter heard her talking about what had happened and was now paranoid and watching everyone and checking the doors were locked constantly.
“I’m also worried to drive at night in case he shows up again and I’ve been avoiding those roads,” the woman said.
Another woman, 18, said the man tried to get into her car in St George’s Rd but was unsuccessful. She said it was a frightening experience.
She said she had also seen the man regularly asking elderly people for money or trying to get them to buy him alcohol.
“It’s obvious he won’t hurt someone, but if he approaches the wrong person, something bad could happen to him,” she said.
“The whole community wants him to get the help he needs.”
Yet another woman spoke of how a man got in her car when she had pulled over at the intersection of Wilmot Rd and Archer St at about 10pm or 11pm about three months ago.
He got her to drive him to the Australia Hotel on Fryers St before asking for money for a taxi.
When she told him she didn’t have any, he got her to drive him back to where he got in.
“It was so sudden and I was so surprised at what was happening I had no idea what to do except what he wanted, to get him out,” she said.
Then on September 20, the same woman saw the man at Woolworths in Archer St, where he again tried to get into her car — but she had her car locked because she had seen him.
On that occasion, she said the man approached her partner at the ATM and repeatedly asked for money.
These are only a few examples of the many encounters shared with The News during its multi-week investigation into this matter by people who have been approached by the man.