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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My son was almost abducted. Just trying to spread the word.

119 replies

renruTnaI · 02/08/2016 19:11

My 13 year old son was almost abducted. I mean, you think they're safe at 13, playing out with their friends, enjoying the summer's evenings, but things like this just prove to you how they're not ever safe and as parents the only thing we can do is spread the word and warn them which is exactly what I think saved my son from actually being abducted. It makes me feel physically sick about what could have happened. So I just want you to make sure that you warn your children, no matter what their age.

It was quite late in the evening but it was still quite light out and I have always tried to give him lots of independence, like being able to hang around with friends at the park etc so I have tried my best to never be overprotective. He was offered a really cool gift by an elderly man (who reminded him of his grandad he said to me) it didn't help that his phone had recently broken so I am sure the temptation was there but I think it's definitely the lessons I have taught him that have caused him to think twice and not go. It may have saved his life.

So please please please make sure you go over those simple safety tips with your children, not just when they're 5 or 10, but when they are teenagers too.

Thank you for reading

OP posts:
RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 02/08/2016 19:54

It's the updated version of "do you want to come and see some puppies?"

Back when I was little there were public service adverts about that sort of thing (Charlie says).

I'm glad he's safe OP. Flowers

OnionKnight · 02/08/2016 19:55

Sorry I've just seen that it was.

BettyBB2 · 02/08/2016 19:55

I missed the part (still can't find it!) where the OP said the elderly man asked him to come back to his house to get the phone. It's not in the original post..

Desmondo2016 · 02/08/2016 19:55

Oh ffs, ignore the ridiculous remarks OP some people come on MN purely to be contrary. Well done to your son and thank you for spreading the word. It may not have been a full on abduction attempt but definitely a precursory act

Indiaplain · 02/08/2016 19:56

I personally think it is a bit over dramatic to say your son was nearly abducted. It could have been something else equally dodgy - maybe he was trying to distract him while he pick pocketed or something. A bit of a leap to claim he was almost abducted.

dontmakemedothis · 02/08/2016 19:56

Lol silverbat what is so unusual about the phrase "really cool gift"??

PenelopeChipShop · 02/08/2016 19:57

I felt sick just reading that OP, so glad to hear your DS is safe. And thank you for the warning as we are in that area.

renruTnaI · 02/08/2016 19:58

The police claimed it as an attempted abduction though am I supposed to ignore that? Oh goodness I say really cool a lot. Being a parent to a teen perhaps!?

Sorry, I'm not lying, how odd to think I am.

OP posts:
NashvilleQueen · 02/08/2016 19:59

The story is on local news sites (assuming there's not more than one)

EmmelineW · 02/08/2016 20:00

Onion, have you heard about it?

Can't get over how many people are trying to make this seem like an act of kindness.

Dumdedumdedum · 02/08/2016 20:01

I heard this story on the news headlines this evening: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/chorlton-water-park-child-snatch-11692430

Dumdedumdedum · 02/08/2016 20:02

Sorry, OP, how awful, so glad your son had the sense not to be beguiled by the offer of a phone.

SilverBat · 02/08/2016 20:02

*dontmakemedothis - Im obviously an old gimmer, because if the OP has a son of 13, and saying they had him at 17 would make them 30. Just didn't think' really cool gift' was a phrase an adult would use.
But then I do shop in Waitrose

dontmakemedothis · 02/08/2016 20:04

Hahaha. I'm 30, and I would say "really cool" without batting an eyelid!

I shop in Tesco, if that explains anything.

KitKats28 · 02/08/2016 20:04

This is a prime example of how terrible things happen to children. Politically correct apologists excuse all sorts of inappropriate and downright wrong behaviour because they always have to be seen to find the "good" in everything. Maybe if people saw the bad a bit more often, there wouldn't be so many abused children and murdered babies.

mamapants · 02/08/2016 20:06

Why are people being so odd?
I don't get it. If a grown adult approaches a teenager asks him to come back.to his house in return for a mobile phone then its abduction/ grooming territory.
Somebody has seriously said above that he was probably just being nice, I mean come on!

kelper · 02/08/2016 20:06

I've just found the story on the Chronics website, I'm glad nothing bad happened to your son.
I can't imagine any random old man or woman offering a new phone for free with no strings attached, especially if they don't know the child. Call me cynical, but it's not the done thing.

OnionKnight · 02/08/2016 20:08

Yeah I've heard about it, happened not far from me actually.

It's not going to end well when a middle aged bloke offers a teenager a free phone.

MissMoo22 · 02/08/2016 20:08

Yep, I do assume that at 13 you wouldn't need to keep reminding them about stranger danger but this thread just highlights that it's always a good idea just to remind them.

Glad your son is safe OP, I'd hate to think what could have happened if he had taken an interest in what this man was offering. I will be having (yet another) talk with my older kids about this kind of stuff tonight.

44PumpLane · 02/08/2016 20:08

I'm a grown woman and if a stranger offered me a free phone out of nowhere, that I had to go to their house to collect I'd have alarm bells firing in my head!! those of you saying "not an abduction attempt" couid be correct but why risk it- and as the OP has been advised by Police that they would consider this an abduction attempt I think it's great to provide a reminder to parents of older children too.

Well done OP for teaching your son that there are dangers out there and to trust his gut.

itcuddles · 02/08/2016 20:09

I don't think anyone is trying to 'defend' the elderly man.The OP was a bit confusing as it missed out the most important part where he told her DS he had to go with him to his house to receive the gift.

Glad he's okay renruTnaI, and well done to him for recognising something wasn't right and acting on it.

FithColumnist · 02/08/2016 20:09

I just hope that in this day and age teenagers have enough street smarts that they realise being offered a "gift" (of any sort) by a random strange adult in a park can only lead to no good.

ANewDayANewName · 02/08/2016 20:10

This story is in all our local newspapers and all over local FB pages.

Very frightening. Hope your DS is ok.

Natsku · 02/08/2016 20:14

Glad your DS was too smart to go with the man.

AntideluvianCat · 02/08/2016 20:14

I am 43 and the parent of a 14 year old. I refer to things as "really cool" all the time.
DD habitually rolls her eyes, and informs me, "NOBODY says cool anymore..."
Hmm

I also shop in Waitrose.