VALPARAISO | A man in a pickup truck approached a young boy who was walking to school Friday morning and offered him a ride, Valparaiso police said.

The boy, an 8-year-old third-grader at Parkview Elementary School in Valparaiso, told the man no and ran to school. The stranger, described as a brown-haired white male in an older white full-size pickup truck, apparently left the area.

The incident occurred about 8:20 a.m. Friday at Beech Street and Parkside Avenue.

Police said the stranger followed the boy and twice offered him a ride. The boy declined the ride both times and, after the second offer, the boy then ran to school and told his teacher.

Valparaiso police said the school sent a note home to parents to alert them of the incident. Police Sgt. Michael Grennes said police are advising parents to make sure their children know to run away if approached by a stranger. Parents should tell their children never to get in a car with a stranger or be led away by a stranger, Grennes said.

"This kid did the right thing by not getting in the vehicle," Grennes said.

Police are conducting extra patrols and continue to investigate Friday's incident. Grennes said police haven't received any other reports of attempted abductions. Police are asking anyone who sees a suspicious white pickup truck or any other suspicious vehicle to call (219) 462-2135.