As your children prepare to go back to school, we want to help you keep them safe as they walk to and from school or to the bus stop.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) analyzed data collected from more than 16,000 attempted abductions from January 2005 to December of last year. What it found is eye-opening.
First, you should know your child is most vulnerable between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. during school days, since they are most likely alone at these times with mom and dad at work.
Of the more than 16,000 attempted abductions that occurred in this country during the time period reviewed, 35% were during this time.
Breaking these times down even more: Most attempted abductions happened between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., right when school is out and after dinner between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
But that doesn’t mean children are any safer walking to school in the morning
Many attempted abductions happened between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
NCMEC found that girls are targeted more often than boys with 62% of the attempted abductions involving girls.
Also, 34% of the children involved were between 10 and 14 years old, so middle schoolers.
Attempted abductions most often occur on the street while children are in public playing, walking or riding bikes -- not in dark alleys or behind homes.
When it comes to abduction suspects, 65% were driving a car and the vast majority (93%) were men.
So here’s the part you need to tell your children:
- Nearly a quarter (23%) of the attempted abductions involved a suspect asking the child a question
- 22% of the time, they offered the child a ride
- A smaller percentage offered the child candy or money or told the child to do something
The bottom line is to tell your children that if anyone they do not know approaches them, it is OK to be rude and walk or run away. Also, teach your children to never walk up to someone’s car, even if they are just asking for help or directions.
If anyone tries to grab them, they should yell, scream, kick and pull away to draw attention.
Now is a good time, before they start getting back to the school routine, to go over “what if” scenarios so they are prepared.