The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice released a study report:
Abductors Lurk Close to Home
Relatives Kidnap More Often Than Strangers, Study Suggests
Read the Study
WASHINGTON (APBnews.com) -- Acquaintances pose a greater risk to children than strangers, according to a new government report.
The Justice Department study, Kidnapping of Juveniles, found family members committed the greatest number of child kidnappings -- 49 percent. Acquaintances were responsible for 27 percent of the abduction cases, while the remaining 24 percent of abductors were strangers.
It was the first time researchers examined the acquaintance category separate from strangers, and the results will help guide future education and prevention strategies, government officials and child advocates said.
"The data reinforces what we have said for many years, that 'stranger danger' is good information, but it's grossly incomplete," said Ernest Allen, chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
"Children are at far greater risk with people they know, at least casually. It's not the guy who crawls out from under the bridge."
Seduction rather than abduction
Acquaintance kidnapping, often by boyfriends or ex-boyfriends of the child's mother, usually involves girls ages 12 to 17, the study found. The victims are more likely to be hurt by acquaintances who kidnap them than by strangers, the study said.
Twenty-four percent of acquaintance kidnappings led to victim injury compared with 16 percent of stranger abductions and 4 percent of family kidnappings. Eighty-four percent of kidnappers were males and 30 percent were juveniles.
"The vast majority are men who commit crimes of seduction rather than abduction," said Allen. "They use the mother to gain access to the child."
Robbery and assault were the crimes most commonly associated with stranger kidnappings, in which 95 percent of kidnappers were males.
In cases involving family members, 80 percent of the kidnappers were males and victims were injured in only 4 percent of the abductions.
'We have to empower the child'
Allen said he was alarmed at the number of abductions by strangers. "That one out of four kidnappings is done by a pure stranger," he said, "means we have to take a closer look at that segment of society."
He said the report's findings would help efforts to broaden children's education about the dangers of kidnapping.
"Kids know they are not supposed to talk to strangers, but someone they knew a little bit ceases to be stranger," Allen said. "We have to empower the child, let them know it's OK get away from situations they don't feel right about and to tell somebody. And teach them not to think just because a person doesn't look like the bogeyman that they are safe."
About 30,000 children were kidnapped in the United States last year, a decline of about 5 percent over the past two years. But Allen cautioned that figure is still six times as high as the number of abductions reported in 1985.
The Justice Department report, conducted by researchers at the University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center, examined 1997 FBI data from 12 states.
What to do?
So what can we do? Should we constantly live in fear? No! Talk to your children frankly about the abductions. Teach them about avoidance, awareness and self defense. Don't hide what's out there from your children. Make them aware of how these Abductors and molesters work and the techniques they use to get their victims. If your child knows how the abductor works your child can better handle any situation that may arise. AND.....
"children" includes adolescents and teens, please remember!!!
Precautions
Parents MUST know the families of their children's friends.
Children should use the buddy system - NEVER walk or ride bikes alone, at night or even during the day. When walking always walk toward traffic so that an Abductor can not drive up behind and pull the child into their vehicle.
NEVER hitchhike or take rides from friends unless parents have given permission.
Always tell a family member or other adult in charge where you will be at all times and when you will be home. To include a friends house close by.
Have a Secret Word known ONLY to family members in the event of an emergency. (Do Not use birth dates, Super Heroes, etc.).
Don't put your child's name on their lunch box or where any one can see it. Abductors will see the name and then call the child by name to make the initial contact they need to abduct the child.
Explain to your child that even if a stranger knows your name he still could be an abductor.
If someone tries to pick you up they Must know the secret word. If they do not know the word then don't ride with them.
If a strange vehicle or person tries to approach, DO NOT GO NEAR THE VEHICLE!! Keep walking or run if necessary!
Bus stops are common areas for abductors to use. Telling them that the bus broke down and they are there to pick up the kids. Or when it is raining or snowing offering them rides to get them out of the elements.
Teach your child at a young age how and when to use 911. Disconnect the phone and let you pretend your the dispatcher and he is calling. Make sure he knows his full name and yours, the complete address to your house, and your phone number.
Let your children know that if someone touches them in there private areas that they should let you know. That includes people they know or you know; Friends of the family, uncles, aunts, godfathers, or anyone.
How to Identity a Strange Vehicle or Person
The key to helping the police to quick apprehension of the stranger that abducts a child and getting the child back is to ensure that you get good identification of the stranger.
Vehicle Identification
If you see a child pulled into a vehicle, or vehicles which may be "driving back and forth" or are unfamiliar to the neighborhood. Remember the following and write it down if possible.
Color or colors of vehicle
Type of vehicles (Ford, Toyota,)
License plate numbers and state the license plate is from.
Window tint, dents, rust, or anything else that might be used to distinguish the vehicle.
Driver / Strangers identification
Race/Nationality (White, Black, Asian, Indian, Hispanic, etc.)
Sex (Male/Female)
Hair: Color and length, mustache, beard, scars, balding, receding hairline,etc.
Clothes (color of shirt, jacket/coat, hat, glasses, etc.)
Other passengers, or if he has animals in the vehicle,
Remember DON'T put yourself in any danger getting this information. Do it from a good distance away.
What do I do if someone tries to get me?
Remember the word SKY which stands for Scream - Kick - Yell. These three things will draw attention to you and COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!
Look for a person you know or a "Safe Place", run to it and ask for help.
STAY NEAR PEOPLE if at all possible. Do Not run into an open field or wooded area.
The other thing to remember is the 4 R's. React, Release, Retaliate, Run,
React: Don't wait; the minute someone grabs you do something.
Release: Get away by using SKY.
Retaliate: Hit, kick or punch.
Run: Get out of the area as fast as you can.
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MORE Tips...
Don't *go* with strangers! Talking to strangers when with someone you know and trust is fine in most cases.
Don't accept gifts from anyone not specifically OK'd by your parents.
Don't accept rides from strangers, or even someone you know. Unless your parents have specially said it's OK to go in a car with that person.
Don't talk to strange people on the other side of schoolyard fence. Go and tell a teacher that a stranger is talking to you, especially if they are asking *any* questions.
Listen to your parents, because they're teaching you self-defense daily, when they tell you:
where you should be,
what time to be home,
and to go directly home.
Remember parents do and tell you these things out of love for you and to protect you.
Listen to your teachers when they tell you where to go and what to do around school grounds, because that's self-defense, too.
If you have to walk on the public streets, walk in the *middle* of the sidewalk, away from doorways and alley ways. Face traffic so someone can't drive up from behind and grab you, and always watch for strangers when they approach.
Don't take *unsafe shortcuts* across parks, etc.
Get immediate attention of anyone nearby if you feel threatened.
Yell "FIRE! FIRE!" and NOT "HELP!" because there are many tragic instances where people have run away from those yelling "Help!" but fire is such a threat to everyone that they generally come to at least see what's happening.
Even break a window, if necessary, don't be afraid to draw attention to yourself! "The window can be replaced, but you cannot be replaced!!"
