Niagara police investigating strange incident in St. Catharines

Niagara police are investigating after two girls reported a strange incident while walking home from school in St. Catharines on Tuesday.

It happened in the north end of the city, in the area of Parnell Rd. and Niagara St., around 3:30 p.m.

Police say a 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old girl were walking home from school, travelling westbound on Parnell Rd., when they noticed a man walking behind them a few metres away talking loudly on a cellphone.

Police say the girls became concerned about the conversation and waited for a parent who was also walking in the area.

The man got into the backseat of a vehicle, described as a maroon/burgundy sedan with grey spots on the roof. The vehicle left the area southbound on Niagara St.

The driver of the vehicle is described as a white man, between 20 and 30 years old. He was wearing a hat and a plaid or camouflage green bandana over his face.

The man who got into the car is said to be between 20 and 30 years old. He was wearing a baggy black jacket, a black beanie and no mask.

Police say they have no grounds to believe a criminal offence took place but they are looking to identify the men.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 905-688-4111, ext. 1024233.