A SCHOOLGIRL walking home in Huntington Beach was groped by a man on Tuesday afternoon.

A schoolgirl walking home was groped by a man in Huntington Beach Tuesday afternoon. According to the HBPD, the incident took place around 3:15 p.m. in the area of Edwards Street and Edinger Avenue.

Police say the girl was approached by a man who “touched her in an inappropriate manner,” but she was able to get away and run home to safety. The suspect was described as a white male, about 25 years old, standing 5-foot-7 inches to 5-foot 8-inches tall, with brown hair and weighing about 150 lbs. He was wearing jeans and a dark turquoise shirt. A witness reported seeing the suspect enter a small black automobile with tinted windows and black rims.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Crime Tip Line at (714) 375-5066. Anyone seeing a man marching the description of the suspect is asked to call the HBPD at (714) 960-8811.

Police are emphasizing the importance of staying alert to your environment. Parents are urged to teach children to walk without looking at their smart phones, or with both ears covered, listening to music. It’s also wise to walk in pairs or in groups, and to “keep an eye out for suspicious people or circumstances.”