Police have launched a new taskforce in response to a string of "alarming" incidents in which a man approached, grabbed or followed school children in Canberra.
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Speaking to the media on Friday, Detective Superintendant Scott Moller revealed there had been fourteen such incidents reported since February, the latest two occuring within just minutes of each other on Thursday afternoon.
"While these reports have similiarities, police are yet to establish a definite link," he said.
To that end, six dedicated detectives and intelligence officers would form Taskforce Tydeus to investigate the cases, he said, while additional police patrols would target areas around schools.
The latest incident happened on Thursday about 5:10pm when a young girl riding a bike was approached by a man in Wright. He allegedly grabbed her on James McAuley Crescent and pushed her to the ground before fleeing the scene in a white van.
Almost an hour earlier in Banks, another child walking home had been followed by a car reported to police for suspicious activity, Detective Superintendent Moller said.
"Over these 14 incidents...some of the children have been spoken to, some have been touched," he said.
"[They've] involved unknown men approaching and in some cases physically assaulting a child.
"We're unsure of the motive...it's alarming."
Establishing a link between the incidents had proven difficult so far given the age of the victims giving descriptions, he said, and police were still not sure if they were looking for one or multiple offenders.
While reported approaches had happened through the territory, there was a particular frequency in Canberra's south.
Earlier this month, a young girl was also approached over the border in Queanbeyan.
Detective Superintendent Moller confirmed ACT police were working with their NSW counterparts on the matter, as well as the ACT education directorate.
Police had also been rolling out updated safety education packages for schools.
Detective Superintendent Moller urged the community to talk to their children about "stranger danger" and report anything suspicious immediately.
ACT Policing is expected to release computer-generated images of the suspects involved in Thursday's incidents next week.
Anyone with information about any of the incidents should contact police on 131 444. In the case of an emergency call Triple Zero (000).
