RATHDRUM - Rathdrum police are investigating whether a girl's report that a man in a blue van who followed her into a Rathdrum restaurant Monday is related to a string of similar reports in the past three months.

Chief Kevin Fuhr said the girl and restaurant workers described the male as older, with long hair and wearing a flannel shirt.

"No height, weight or age were given," Fuhr said.

The vehicle is described as a dirty blue van, possibly a Ford Aerostar.

Fuhr said an 8-year-old girl was walking after school from John Brown Elementary at about 3 p.m. when she became concerned about a van that was following her.

She went into a restaurant about a block from the school and the male followed her inside, ordered a meal, then left soon afterward without eating or paying for what he ordered.

Fuhr declined to name the restaurant.

"The male did not have any verbal communication with the girl," Fuhr said. "However, the male reportedly watched the girl while she was in the restaurant."

Restaurant workers confirmed the man ordered a meal, Fuhr said.

Previous suspicious reports throughout Kootenai County described the van as blue with gray striping. However, gray striping was not a description in the Rathdrum report.

Previous reports described the man as unshaven and between 40 and 50.

Those with information in the Rathdrum case are encouraged to call Rathdrum Police at 687-0711.