Twice this month a woman in a minivan reportedly approached students at school bus stops in Cottage Grove, prompting law enforcement and school officials to alert the public.

Parents are urged to talk to their kids about suspicious incidents, and anyone with information is urged to call police.

According to a statement from police, a parent called to report what she thought was suspicious activity at a bus stop near 90th Street and Janero Avenue on Sept. 25. The parent said she saw a woman get out of a blue minivan and approach a student. The woman "asked the student where he went to school and if he would bring a violin to a student there," the police statement said.

The incident was similar to a Sept. 4 incident, Cottage Grove Capt. Pete Koerner said.

"It was after school and a minivan was at a bus stop. A lady rolls down the window and asks the two kids if they were looking for their parents," Koerner said. "They did exactly what they should have. They ignored her and went straight home and told their dad."

Descriptions in the two cases are similar: an older white woman with gray hair driving a blue minivan.

Koerner said it doesn't seem as if any crime has been committed, but the scenarios didn't feel right to witnesses or police.

He said if the woman is found and police are able to talk to her, she will be warned.

"Just educating them and letting them know that, hey just by approaching kids, that's alarming behavior, that's going to draw attention to you. You're not making good choices," Koerner said.


Police ask anyone with information to call the Washington County sheriff's communications center at 651-439-9381 and ask for a police officer.