The fourth attempted abduction of a child in Bergen County in the last two weeks occurred most recently in Hawthorne, NJ. Other towns with attempted abductions include Oradell, Maywood, and Hackensack.
In Hackensack, a man tried to get a young boy into his car under the guise of getting directions to Costco; in the Oradell and Maywood incidents involved young girls who were being lured, sometimes under the pretense of seeing puppies.
In Hawthorne, a 13 year old was attending a soccer game at the rec fields when a man tried to pull her to a secluded parking area.
While most abductions do not involve strangers, the recent reports are a good reminder for parents to have the Stranger Danger discussion with their children.
Stranger Danger
Strangers Are Not Always Evil Looking
Child molesters and abductors usually look like everyday people. Tell your kids not to talk to adults they do not know. Anytime they are approached by an adult they should check with a parent or trusted adult immediately.
Tell Children To Stay Away From Cars
A car or other vehicle is often the means by which the abductor removes the child from the neighborhood. Children should never approach a vehicle unless they are absolutely sure they know the occupants. Abductors entice children to walk near their vehicles and then pull them inside.
If children routinely see the same car parked (or following them) on their normal walking routes (to and from school, etc.) they should report it to trusted adults immediately.
How Child Molesters Gain A Child’s Confidence
Often times they will befriend a child by asking for help. Some examples are: Asking to help find a lost pet; asking directions to someone’s house; offering reward money for assistance; saying Mom or Dad have been hurt or need their help; acting like an undercover police officer (children should only approach uniformed police officers, and/or marked police cars).
They may also gain your child’s trust by very minor contacts over several days, such as saying hello to them repeatedly. Make sure your children know to tell you if a stranger is trying to make friends with them.
Children Are Most Vulnerable When Alone
Individuals who prey on children wait for an opportunity when the child is alone. Children should not be outside their home by themselves, even for short periods of time. They should walk to and from school and bus stops in groups.
Working together with other families in your neighborhood to develop a formal plan for kids to walk together is a good idea.
Role Play With Your Kids
Act like a stranger and see how your children react. Teach them the proper way to respond. Kids should:
Run away.
Yell loudly.
Say exactly what is happening
Examples:
“Help, this is not my Dad.”
“Help, this is not my Mom.”
“Help, I’m being kidnapped.”
“Help, call the police.”
If Children just scream, people may think they are only throwing a temper tantrum.
The more you practice the better your children will be at responding to difficult situations.
Report Any Suspicious Activity Immediately
Talk to your children about safety practices on a daily basis. Children do not put the same emphasis on suspicious activity as adults. Asking them direct questions (“Did you talk to anyone new today?”) may bring suspicious acts to light. If they report anything suspicious call the nearest local law enforcement agency.