Police are searching for a suspect after a young girl was allegedly lured away from an elementary school in South Vancouver and sexually assaulted.

Authorities said a stranger coaxed the six-year-old victim away from the playground at Sexsmith Elementary School on Columbia Street and 59th Avenue last Wednesday.

"She was taken to a nearby location where she was assaulted before he walked her back to the school," the Vancouver Police Department said in a news release.

The suspect is described as a darker-skinned man who is about 30 years old and has brown or grey hair. He was wearing grey pants at the time of the incident.

So far, police have little to work with.

"We're still looking into the exact time that this occurred," Const. Jason Doucette said. "Again, we're dealing with a six-year-old girl who's been through an emotional experience."

Investigators are now trying to track down dash cam video from anyone who was driving in the area between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 5.

They are particularly interested in video that was captured in the area surrounded by West 58th Avenue on the north, West 60th Avenue on the south, Ontario Street on the east and Cambie Street on the west.

“Public safety, especially a child’s well-being, is the VPD’s number one priority,” Const. Jason Doucette said. “Our detectives have now had an opportunity to speak with the victim and follow up on leads and are using the information to ask for the public’s help. We want to hear from anyone who could have seen something or may have dash-cam footage."

The incident has rattled the school community.

"I have a six year old that goes to school… I don't even know how to feel or what to say," said Sandeep Grewal, the mother of a child who attends the same school.

She said the school does have volunteers who watch kids while they're outside, but said it's ultimately up to the parents to make sure their children are as informed as possible about the dangers of approaching strangers.

Grewal said she was also shocked by the amount of time it took to inform parents at the school of this incident.

"This is crazy and they're telling us after a week, which is even crazier," she said. "They should have informed us, so we could talk to the kids and remind them again."

Doucette would not say exactly when authorities found out, but said "there was a bit of a delay in reporting it to police."

In a statement, the Vancouver School Board it is helping police with the investigation and working to ensure the safety of students.

"School staff are actively sharing safety messages with students and families, and, are working with the VPD to ensure a safe environment," the board said. "Supervision of students in and out of class is in place in school.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vancouver Police Sex Crimes Unit at 604-717-0603. Those who wish to remain anonymous can instead call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

With files from CTV Vancouver's Emad Agahi