Preventing Abductions

Whenever the evening news brings the story of a kidnapped child or teen, the terrifying prospect of abduction fills the minds of parents across the country. But it's important to remember that the majority of children will pass through childhood safely. One of the challenges of being a parent is to teach your children to be cautious without filling them with too much fear or anxiety. Although some dangers do exist, there are steps that you can take to lessen the chances that your child will be abducted.

Approximately 2,100 missing-children reports are filed each day. All of these cases might be solved more easily if parents were able to provide a few key pieces of information about their children, like: height, weight, eye color, and a clear recent photo.

The Reality of Child Abductions

The circumstances surrounding child abduction are often quite different from the way they are portrayed in TV shows and movies. Here are some of the realities of child abduction:

The majority of children who are reported missing have run away, or there has been a misunderstanding with their parents about where they were supposed to be.
Of the kids and teens that are truly abducted, the majority of them are taken by a family member or an acquaintance; 25% of kids are taken by strangers.
Almost all children kidnapped by strangers are taken by men, and about two thirds of stranger abductions involve female children.
Most abducted children are in their teens.
Children are rarely abducted from school grounds.

Strategies for Preventing Abductions

Parents often do not provide their children with safety information that could help prevent an abduction. These strategies may help:

Make sure custody documents are in order.
Have ID-like photos taken of your children every 6 months, and have your children fingerprinted. Many local police departments sponsor fingerprinting programs - check if they're available in your town.
Keep your children's medical and dental records up to date.
Make babysitters, day-care providers, and nannies - carefully and check their references. If you've arranged for someone to pick up your children from school or
Never accept candy or gifts from a stranger.

Never go anywhere with a stranger, even if it sounds like fun. Predators can lure children with questions like "Can you help me find my lost puppy?" or "Do you want to see some cute kittens in my car?" Remind your children that adults they don't know should never ask children to help or to do things for them.

Run away and scream if someone follows them or tries to force them into a car.

Say no to anyone who tries to make them do something you've said is wrong or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Always tell you or another trusted adult if a stranger asks personal questions, exposes himself, or otherwise makes them feel uneasy. Reassure children that it's OK to tell you even if the person made them promise not to or threatened them in some way.

Always ask permission from a parent to leave the house, yard, or play area or to go into someone's home.

Keep these other tips in mind, too:

Make sure younger children know their names, address, phone number including area code, and who to call in case of an emergency. Review with your child how to use 911 or local emergency number. Discuss what to do if they get lost in a public place or store - most places have emergency procedures for handling lost children. Remind your children that they should never go to the parking lot to look for you. Instruct your children to ask a cashier for help or stand near the registers or front of the building away from the doors.
Point out the homes of friends around the neighborhood where your children can go in case of trouble.
Be sure your children know in whose car they may ride and in whose they may not. Teach them to move away from any car that pulls up beside them and is driven by a stranger, even if that person looks lost or confused. Develop code words for caregivers other than mom or dad, and remind your children never to tell anyone the code word. Teach your children not to ride with anyone they don't know or with anyone who doesn't know the code word.
If your children are old enough to stay home alone, make sure they keep the door locked and never tell anyone who knocks or calls they are home alone.

If Your Child Has Been Abducted

Because the first few hours are the most critical in missing-child cases, it's important to provide officials with information about your child immediately.

If your child has been abducted, contact local law enforcement right away. They'll ask you for a recent picture of your child and will probably ask you many questions about the time and location you last saw your child and what your child was wearing. You may also request that your child be entered into National Crime and Information Center (NCIC). Other clearinghouses such as the Child Protection Education of America ([866] USA-CHILD) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ([800] 843-5678) can offer information and support during your search for your child.

After notifying the authorities, try to stay calm. You'll be able to remember details about your child's disappearance more easily if you remain rational and logical.

Updated and reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD, and Neil Izenberg, MD

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