Preventing Abduction

Many abduction attempts:¹

• Involve a suspect driving a vehicle.
• Occur when the child is traveling to or away from school.
• Occur between 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Involve girls and children between the ages of 10 -14.

The top five methods used
during abduction attempts are:²

1. Offering a ride.
2. Offering candy or sweets.
3. Asking questions.
4. Offering money.
5. Offering, looking for or showing an animal.

• Know the routes your children take, especially to and from school. Practice walking the routes with them so you can point out places they should avoid or where they can go for help.
• Talk to your child’s school or day care facility about its pickup policy. Be clear that no one should pick up your child without your permission. Ask to be contacted immediately if someone else tries to pick up your child.
• Use role-playing scenarios to help children learn how to recognize and respond to risky situations. For example, have children practice yelling, kicking, pulling away or otherwise attracting attention when grabbed or approached by someone they do not know.

• Teach your child about the methods would-be abductors use. Have your child practice responding to the tricks by saying “no,” walking away and telling a trusted adult immediately.
• Prepare children to act when you are not with them. They should know their full names, home addresses and telephone numbers, and how to dial 911.
• Keep a child identification kit, which includes a recent color photo of your child and descriptive details such as age, height and weight. For more information about creating a kit visit www.missingkids.com/ChildID.