POLICE presence around Ballarat district primary schools has been stepped up after two separate incidents involving school children in recent days.All primary schools in the district have been put on alert by the Department of Education and the Catholic Education Office following the two incidents, one an attempted abduction.Ballarat police investigating the incidents at Creswick and Black Hill primary schools believe the two offences were unrelated.Police service area manager in Ballarat, Inspector Bruce Thomas said police activity around all schools had increased this week following the incidents.In the first incident, on July 20, two Creswick Primary School pupils were approached by a man offering Mintie lollies. The incident took place at 3.20pm, when the pupils were still in the school yard.Inspector Thomas said the girls declined the man's offer twice before the school bell rang and they ran into the school building.He said the man was described as Caucasian, aged in his mid-30s, 180cm tall, with black hair and a black moustache. He wore small, dark sunglasses. It is believed he was driving a small, silver-coloured car.In the second incident, a Black Hill Primary School Grade 6 pupil was walking to school along Nicholson St at about 8.50am Tuesday when she was approached by a man who offered her a lift.Inspector Thomas said after the pupil declined the man's offer he drove off.The man was in his 30s, with long brown hair to his jaw line. He wore a black baseball hat and a green high-visibility jumper. He drove a white sedan with pink and blue lightning bolts on the side of the car, near the front wheel.Inspector Thomas has asked teachers and parents to keep an eye on pupils and to report suspicious activities around schools.The Department of Education and Catholic Education Office have issued warnings to their respective Ballarat schools.A spokeswoman from the Department of Education said each of the 21 schools in the Highlands City Network were alerted to the incidents.The department has offered counselling to the Black Hill and Creswick primary school pupils involved in the incidents. Other schools in the district have also been offered a counselling service for those pupils concerned by the cases.Anyone with information about either incident can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.