Ukiah girl reports being followed by man in van

A 12-year-old Ukiah girl told police she was followed Wednesday morning by a man in a van who tried to convince her to get inside his vehicle.

The girl, who was walking home from Pomolita Middle School at about 10:40 a.m., told police she was in the 600 block of Dora Avenue when she passed a white panel van parked on the street. As she walked by, the man asked her to get inside, police said. The girl refused but the man followed in his van, continuing to ask her to get in, according to police.

The girl said she ran back to school and notified staff. Police said they were unable to locate the van, but have beefed up patrols of area schools.

The man was described as white, in his 30s or 40s, with a full beard and dark hair. He was wearing sunglasses and a dark leather jacket, the girl told police. There were porcelain dolls on the front passenger seat and the van had a broken rear taillight, she said.

Ukiah police said parents should tell their children to avoid strangers, stay in groups and pay attention to surroundings.