| Attempted Abductions
What Parents & Guardians Need to Know
The numbers are surprising: forty-nine percent of
parents or guardians believe that their neighborhood is safe, and therefore
are not concerned that their child will go missing1.
The same research indicates that over half of parents and guardians do
not have a recent photo of their child – one updated within the
last six months – for emergency purposes.
Yet preliminary analysis2 conducted
by NCMEC’s Attempted Abduction Program indicates that child
safety remains of paramount importance. Initial findings show
that attempted non-family3 abductions:
- Occur more often when a child is going to and from school or a school-related
activity
- More often involve children between the ages of 10 to 14
- Happen to more female children than male
- More often entail a suspect that uses a vehicle
Nearly 450 confirmed, attempted abductions were foiled when the victims:
- Yelled, kicked or pulled away (56%)
- Walked or ran away (32%)
- Got help from an adult (12%)
In light of these findings, NCMEC encourages parents and guardians now
more than ever to discuss safety with their families and
to update children’s photo IDs.
About the Program
In 2006, NCMEC developed the Attempted Abduction Program within
its Special Analysis Unit to analyze attempted abduction trends and patterns
and collect information to assist law
enforcement during investigations. Currently, no national organization
aggressively tracks attempted abductions across the United States.
1CARAVAN® survey of parents/guardians, conducted by Opinion Research
Corporation, on behalf of Duracell and NCMEC, February 2006.
2Editors
Note: Data compiled over two-year period (2/05 – 2/07),
including information from confirmed incidents NCMEC analysts are able
to locate through media and voluntarily reports from law enforcement;
this is not a scientific research study.
3Editors Note: Non-family abductions
are typically defined as including any suspect who is not related to
the child through blood or marriage, but who may be known to the child/family.
For purposes of this analysis, that definition is narrowed to include
only those suspects who are not related and not known to the child.
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