A man was arrested last week after approaching girls at an Albany park, and on Wednesday two young girls told police that a stranger asked them to get into his pickup while they were playing in a North Albany neighborhood.

In both cases, the kids ran home to their parents, who then called police.

Albany police don't often get calls about strangers coming up to kids at parks, but it's something for people to be aware of, Detective Sgt. Marv Hammersley said this week.

On June 26, police arrested Shawn David Jarvis, 40, of Albany after he went to Periwinkle Park, allegedly looking for a young girl to sexually abuse. Police said Jarvis had taken a sexually explicit photo of a 5-year-old girl earlier that week.

The case is still under investigation. Jarvis is being held in the Linn County Jail pending court proceedings.

Police said two of the girls he approached at the park were sisters, ages 8 and 10. They refused to tell Jarvis their names or where they lived.

"Those little girls did everything right," Hammersley said.

With summer well under way and kids spending more time outdoors, here are some more safety tips from Hammersley:

• Accompany kids or make sure they are with another adult or older teen. It's especially important to supervise kids at waterfront parks.

• Know who your kids are associating with.

• If children are old enough to be off by themselves, know where they are going and when they will return.

• Have age-appropriate boundaries for kids: Where they can go, for how long and to do what activities.

• Be aware of adults offering kids something fun like a ride on a scooter.

• If kids are approached by a stranger, they should know not to give out personal information, and to make noise and draw attention to themselves. They should also tell their parents.