JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After two children were sexually assaulted in the last two weeks, police have said they are stepping up patrols and staying hyper vigilant to find answers and protect students who are heading back to school while the community searches for answers.
The first incident happened Aug. 10 near the Eagle Pointe Apartments in the Arlington area where police said an 8-year-old girl was pulled into a wooded area off University Boulevard, brutally attacked and sexually assaulted.
A 6-year-old child was attacked in a McDonald's bathroom last week though the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was able to arrest the man they believe was responsible for the act.
The suspect, Keith Sykes, is being held without bond, charged with capital sexual battery.
JSO hasn't found the person it said assaulted the 8-year-old but officers haven't stopped looking.
READ: Child rape victim's father: 'I'm living a nightmare'
There are also two schools located less than a mile away, from where that attacked happened. Since those incidents, officials at schools in the area said they have seen increased patrols and with classes starting again Monday, officers were out again keeping a close eye on children coming and going.
Parents were out as well, walking home with their children, which is what Patricia Donahue, principal of Resurrection Parish Catholic School, would like to see more often even with the uptick in police presence.
"That horrific event happened on a Monday night and we began school on Wednesday," Donahue said. "We would see maybe one police car in the morning patrolling, and one in the afternoon, now we see two on our property in the morning and afternoon, as well as the patrols."
Donahue also said after the incident happened she had a police officer go around her entire school to see if they could get in one of the school's doors without anyone knowing. Donahue said all of the doors were locked and the officer wasn't able to get inside, which she said will hopefully let parents know the school's security measures are working properly.
The school is also training students to not open the door for anyone and if they see someone trying to get in, to tell an adult right away.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said parents should also come up with a safety plan like having their children text or call when they are safely home.
"If the parent isn't getting that text or call within 15 or 20 minutes of their normal arrival time, than they need to start calling the kid and start looking for them. So they need to develop that system of making sure they call every day when they come home from school and expecting that call or text," Smith said.
The school hasn't discussed the recent incidents in detail with students, but said they have had talks about safety and especially safety in numbers.
"We just tell them that there are bad people out there unfortunately, and always to stay with a friend, stay with parents and let us know if you see anything that doesn't look right. We don't want to scare them, but we have to let them know there are bad people out there," Donahue said.
"There is an $8,000 reward for any information that will help lead police to the man who assaulted the 8-year-old girl and anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS where tipsters remain anonymous.
As for what happened to the 6-year-old boy who was sexually assaulted in the McDonald's bathroom, police said that shortly after he went into the bathroom his father went in shortly after to check on him and noticed a man leaving the stall where his son was pulling up his pants.
The father knew something wasn't right and chased the man but eventually lost sight of him.
Police ended up getting a tip that the man, now identified as Keith Sykes, was hiding in a dumpster where they found and arrested him.
Smith said the case shows the need to keep an eye on children even when they're out of school and in their parents' care.
Smith said there are lots of things parents can do but there is one simple and effective tip that parents can put to use right away.
"If a child is getting older and they feel comfortable going into a men's room or women's room, the best thing you can do is send the child in, and then after about 10 or 15 seconds, call into them, ‘Hey what are you doing? Hurry up!' And then the child can yell, ‘OK mom, or OK dad, I'll be out shortly.' That lets anyone know who's inside the restroom who may be planning an attack that they do have someone looking out for their kids," Smith said.
Smith also said it's a good idea to teach children to get in and out of the bathroom quickly and not to talk with anyone while they're in there.