Photo: SOSBIS

The playground at the Columbus Park housing development where management says a man attempted to lure children Wednesday in Penticton.

Residents of a South Main Street housing complex in Penticton received a disturbing notice Wednesday — a man had been spotted attempting to lure children who were playing outside. 

According to a letter sent by the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society to its 44 units at their Columbus Park property, an "older man" was seen by staff members speaking to four children under eight years of age around 1:15 p.m. on Aug. 12. 

"He is not a person who is known to live here or as a guest here," reads the letter from property management. "The man was wearing dark blue shorts, a light blue T-shirt and was wearing glasses. He had short white hair under a black ball cap."

The letter adds that police have been contacted, and urges residents to speak to their children about stranger danger. 

"When the children were asked what the man said, one replied, 'He was trying to trick us with candy,'" the letter concludes.

SOSBIS executive director Linda Sankey said the letter was sent to tenants as soon as possible after the incident Wednesday afternoon because nothing like this had ever happened before at the location, and safety is their top concern. 

She said the children are unharmed and seemed "unfazed," but wanted to be sure all residents were aware and on alert.