What she should have done is look for someone to help her and call out to them. She should be yelling and screaming as loud as she could. She should have resisted with all her might falling to the ground becoming dead weight or roll into a ball. When being forced into a car again yell, scream, fight, spread arms and legs as far as they can making it harder to be pushed into a car.

If they are forced into a car try to exit a different door, climb into the back seat or throw themselves across the driver making it very difficult for the abductor to control the auto. If this causes an accident then any resulting injury to the child may be much less traumatic than what awaits them from the abductor.

Preventing Child Abduction

Each year, thousands of children are reported missing. Some of these children are found and some return home on their own, but some are never found or returned. Nothing can devastate a neighborhood, friends or a family more than when a child is reported “Abducted or Kidnapped”. It is not only strangers that abduct children, someone the children know and trust, like their parent, sometimes commits it.

WHAT A PARENT OR GUARDIAN NEEDS TO KNOW

Know your children's friends and where they hang out.

Know the length of time it takes your child to walk to and from school and go to find them if they are later than usual.

Know where your children are at all times.

Never to leave a small child alone at home or in a car.

Know who your children's friends are, where they live, and the telephone numbers.

Report to the police immediately if your child informs you that a stranger tried to lure them into a vehicle, or behind trees, or assaulted your child physically or sexually.

Know your children's daily activities

Make sure that children has a secret code word that only you and the child knows, remind the child often of the code word and tell them that they are never to go with anyone, even if it is someone they know, without that person knowing the secret code word

Listen carefully to children's fears, provide them with comfort and understanding

Before attainting the services of a babysitter you should carefully obtain information about them and check references completely

Show up for unannounced visits to the place where your child is being taken care of

Stress to them that your child is not to be released to anyone else's care without prior discussion with them

Never leave children unattended, even for a second

Ensure that the school has telephone numbers and other contact information for you in the even that your child does not show up for school, and they have not received a prior telephone call from you

When children are outside playing, waiting for a school bus, or other such situations, always be attentive to strange vehicles or vehicles acting in a suspicious manner.

Never place a child's name on their clothing, doing so will allow an abductor to know the child's name and build on this to create a sense of trust with the child

Never allow children to take part in door to door campaigns such as chocolate bar campaigns without being monitored

Never leave children alone in automobiles

Have up to date photographs of children taken so that you have them in the event of an abduction

Never leave children unattended in public washrooms, always accompany children

When children go trick or treating for Halloween they should never be left unmonitored

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WHAT TO TEACH CHILDREN

Teach children that a stranger isn't necessarily based on what a person looks like or the clothes that they wear. Teach them that if they have not been personally introduced to the person by their parents, they are considered a stranger, or if the child doesn't personally know the individual they are a stranger.

Teach children a codeword to use when anyone approaches them to come with them. I.e. Mommy said I was to pick you up from school because she is going to be late. If the person can not give the child the code word, the child is not to go with them.

Teach children to trust their instincts - children have great instincts - and if they are unsure to trust there feelings and run away.

Teach children to yell “This is not my daddy or this is not my mommy” if they are grabbed by someone they don't know.

Teach children the safest route to and from school and have them use that same route daily, so that if you need to you can find them.

Teach children to tell you if a stranger approaches them or tries to become friendly with them.

Teach children not to accept gifts, including candy, or rides from people, without your permission.

Teach children to check with you first, before going anywhere with anyone.

Teach children that if a stranger approaches them, to run and scream.

Teach children to know his or her full name, address, and telephone number.

Teach children where you work and the telephone number.

Teach children an emergency telephone number such as a grandparent, aunt or friend.

Teach children to inform you or the police if anyone exposes their private parts to them.

Teach children that nobody has the right to touch any part of their body a bathing suit doesn't cover.

Teach children to never go to a friend's home without informing you where they are going and when they will be home.

Teach children to never talk to strangers - teach them what a stranger is!

Teach children to never take food or candy from a stranger.

Teach children to never to wander off in shopping malls, and other public places.

Teach children to move back from an unfamiliar car or van that pulls up beside them.

Teach children to scream and run away is a stranger approaches them.

Teach children to be suspicious of anyone asking for help - lost pet, keys, etc.

Teach children to try to remember what the stranger and his vehicle looked like.

Teach children to immediately tell parents or police if a stranger attempt to lure them over to their vehicle.

Teach children to trust their own feelings, a child should always know that they have the right to say no if a situation or action does not feel proper

Teach children that they do not go anywhere with anyone without a parent or guardian, ploys used by predators include enlisting the children's help in finding a lost pet and that they are needed at home and they have come to pick them up.

Teach children to avoid shortcuts, especially those through back alleys and dark places

Teach children the buddy system, they should always walk with a friend, never alone

Teach children to scream, kick, yell, cry, whatever it takes to get other peoples attention in the event that someone tries to abduct them

Teach children not to give any information over the phone, this includes their name and address

If the children are home alone and the telephone rings they should tell the person on the other end of the phone that you are currently busy and will return their call. provide your children with a contact number to reach you so that they may discuss any such telephone calls with you

Teach children to keep all doors and windows locked when they are home alone and never to answer the door

Teach children not to get into anyone's car without your permission

Teach children to stay away from deserted or abandoned buildings

Children should know that adults should not ask them for directions

Teach children to run if they feel threatened in any way

Teach children that they should never offer to keep a secret from you, especially from another adult

Teach children that hitchhiking is wrong, and discuss with them the possible dangers of getting into a strangers vehicle

Teach children that they should never accept a job, without discussing it with you previously, even if it is a short one or two hour job

Teach children to walk against traffic on sidewalks to avoid the possibility of someone coming up from behind.

Teach children to hold their head up high, act like they know where they're going and what they're doing because predators are more likely to seek out a child that looks vulnerable.

Teach children that if riding a bike to not let go of it since it is more difficult to get a child and an object into a car.

Teach children that if they can't get away and ends up in the abductor's car to A) Try to get out of the other side of the car as they are being placed in B) Roll down the window and yell. C) Pull the keys out of the ignition and throw them as far away as possible and run D) Break a key in the ignition or jam a foreign object into it E) Jump out of the car at a stop sign or stop light

WHAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD KNOW

Be aware of all strangers in the neighborhood, especially if they seem overly friendly, to a child.

Record information about anyone who is a stranger to your neighborhood.

Call the police immediately is someone is screaming or being chased by anyone.

Write down information about vehicles that are strange to your neighborhood.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 74% of children that are abducted and later found murdered are killed within the first three hours after being taken. (University of Washington Study).

Incident Report

When children report to you suspicious behavior immediately try to get all of the information from them while it is fresh in their mind. Because children are naturally observant a lot of questions are not overwhelming and children may surprisingly recall many of the details. Be sure to log all the events and information from the child, for this may be helpful in police investigations.

The Vehicle

Color, size, make, model - Or if the child can identify a similar vehicle.

Number of doors, or any damage to the vehicle.

Where the vehicle was located and what direction it drove off in.

The Stranger

Male or Female

Approximate age, height, weight

Fat, Normal, Skinny

Hair color and length

Eyes color

Color of skin - White, Tan, Olive, Dark, Black

Identifying Marks like scars, tattoos, etc.

Facial hair

Did the stranger have a big nose, or ears?

Did the stranger walk funny?

Did the stranger have a funny voice or accent?

Was the stranger wearing a hat?

Did the stranger have a coat on - what color, style, length?

Shirt/Blouse - color, long/short sleeves, print or solid?

Pants - color, jeans or dress?

Socks - color, pattern?

Shoes - color, style - running, casual, dress?

Accessories - did stranger have scarf, mitts, gloves, tie, etc?

Jewelry - Description of rings, watches, bracelets, etc.?

Did the stranger's clothes fit properly?

Was the stranger neat or sloppy - clean or dirty?