N. Hollywood Watches Its Children

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — In the sun-soaked play lot at Valley Plaza Park, with the ice cream truck bell jingling and swings creaking as children reached toward the sky, the atmosphere felt nearly idyllic Monday afternoon.

But four days after a girl was raped in the park’s restroom, and two days after another girl reported a kidnap attempt nearby, there were signs that people were on edge.

Unmarked Fords circled the playground, part of the beefed-up police patrols. Parents stood close to their playing children, whether they were on the swings, slides or playing kickball in the grass. A few mothers stopped to read a “CRIME ALERT” notice tacked onto a tree.

And even teenage boys, often so macho, refused to go into the park’s restrooms alone.

“I don’t want to get raped,” said Walter Gonzalez, 13, who insisted that his older cousin stand by the door. “My mom told me not to go in there unless I had someone with me.”

In the wake of two crimes against children last week, it’s not just parkgoers who are increasingly vigilant.

The Thursday evening rape and Saturday kidnap attempt on Oxford Street near the park, located on Vanowen Street near the Hollywood Freeway, have compelled administrators at North Hollywood schools and community leaders to increase safety measures.

Police believe the same man may have committed both crimes and have distributed fliers with a description. No arrests had been made.

The suspect was described as African American, about 25 to 35 years old, 5-feet-10 to 6-feet tall, weighing 150 to 200 pounds. His most distinctive feature is a shaved head, police said.

The publicity given the two crimes reminded people of the dangers children face, said Dove Poock, an outreach coordinator at Valley Trauma Center, an agency that works with rape victims.

“One positive aspect is that when we have a public incident, people’s awareness goes up,” Poock said. “It becomes an opportunity to talk about the basics like trusting your instincts and being aware of your surroundings.”

At Coldwater Canyon Elementary School, four blocks from the park, Principal Marvin Silver held a special assembly on Friday to talk about safety. Silver told the children that a man had bothered a girl in the park’s restroom and hurt her. The auditorium, for once, was silent, Silver said.

“These kids were very aware about what’s going on. They know about the fliers and they know this is a man who could hurt them,” Silver said. “I wouldn’t say we’re paranoid, because we want the kids to feel safe here. But we are more sensitive to the space around us.”

The school district has sent an alert about the incidents to the five schools in the park’s area, said district spokesman Shel Erlich. The neighborhood is not a high-crime area, authorities said.

Investigators are considering as many as 50 people as possible suspects in the attacks, LAPD Det. Karen Crawford said.

Some of the men under scrutiny are registered sex offenders who live in the area, Crawford said. Others were brought to the attention of police by tipsters.

One lead involves an unsigned letter dropped off at a North Hollywood fire station, naming a person the letter writer said was responsible for the rape.

“It’s being looked into,” Crawford said. “Nothing has been confirmed or verified.”

Crawford said four detectives have been assigned to the case. Meanwhile, police presence has been increased, including patrols by mounted officers.

Police and city officials discussed the stepped-up safety measures at a community meeting Sunday.

Many parents who visited Valley Plaza Park on Monday said there is no substitute for good old-fashioned watchfulness.

Norm Goya, a Valley Plaza regular for years, doesn’t let his two daughters out of sight.

“This park is a good place,” he said as he lobbed a softball to his daughter. “But just like everything else today, you have to keep your eye on your kids. You can never drop your guard.”

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Keeping Kids Safe

One of the best ways to keep kids safe from strangers is to educate them about how to react when confronted by someone they do not know. It is important to impress upon children that it is impossible to tell the safe strangers from the unsafe strangers. Here are some safety tips for parents and their children:

1. Teach children the following three safety rules.

* Use the buddy system and stick with a group of friends.

* Avoid isolated places.

* Follow your instincts; if you think you might be in danger, get away.

2. Have a code word that you and your children know and practice it. If someone besides yourself is going to pick up your children, that person will say the code word so that your children will know that the person is a safe person. Teach your children that they should not go with anyone who does not know the code word.

3. Make sure your child’s name is not visible on any clothing or items they carry with them. When a child hears someone calling their name, they may automatically think that person is a safe person.

4. Let your child know that they should scream and make a scene if anyone scares them or makes them uncomfortable.

5. Teach your children about tricks strangers will use to try to get children to go with them.

Emergency: The child is told by the abductor that there has been an emergency, for example, “Mom has been hurt and I will take you to her.”

Fun and games: The child is lured by games or toys.

Make you famous: The child is told that he/she will be on TV or in the movies if he/she comes with the abductor.

Official uniform: The abductor dresses in an official uniform and acts like a police officer, firefighter, nurse or delivery person. Children often think that they have to do what the uniformed person says.

Help me: The child is asked by the abductor for help with things such as directions, finding a lost pet, moving their car, etc . Let your child know that if an adult needs help, they should ask another adult, not a child.

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Source: Valley Trauma Center