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

[renruTnaI]

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

Unbelievable that some people want to stray from the very clear message being sent by the op.

My 10 year old is definitely getting a refresher on stranger danger tomorrow..thanks for the reminder op..once you do it once you don't think you need to do it again but this is a reminder that refreshers are essential..!!

What is wrong with the people who think this is fine? cant they just go off and toss their children the matches and a lighter and respect that the rest of us want to protect our children, instead of attacking the op who's had a very stressful day?

It's so bizzare in any threads about child abductions so many people say it's scaremongering or wasn't an abduction attempt, 'stranger danger' just being dramatic. Just because they aren't always successful in their attempt to snatch the child doesn't mean that this does not happen. It also isn't as rare as people make out, a lot of people I know (myself included) encountered some weirdo who tried to tempt them into their car or follow them when they were young.

I hope your son is OK OP, what a scary experience.

Thanks for the stark reminder OP and being mindful to share this. The other day I was talking to my 10yr olds about staranger danger and what do do if a stranger offers to give them sthg and they said "but old people are OK right?"

Some weird responses on here..

I'm glad your son is ok. I'm going to have a chat with my children now, thanks.

My 11 year old was walking home from school after clubs had finished so about 4:30. A car pulled up and the driver said he had some chocolate in the back if my son wanted some. Luckily my son just ran home.

Same thing happened a few months before in a different pet of town but police said they weren't linked (same description of man and car)

It's so bloody scary, kids want freedom and independence but when you hear stories it's like these it makes you want to keep them close.

Sorry for daily mail link but Manchester, Stockport and Cornwall police have warned off attempted abductions in the last few days

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3719431/amp/Police-warn-children-woman-tries-drag-boy-eight-car-asking-wanted-puppies.html?client=safari

Glad your DS is ok OP.
I agree about the weird responses on here, there was a spate of attempts outside high schools round here (police sent out warnings) that I mentioned on a thread a while back only to be told that it didn't really happen and stranger danger didn't exist

I am one of those parents who let their child have a lot of independance when out playing with friends but I would never dismiss something like this as harmless!

Who in their right mind thinks that an adult offering a new phone to a child "if they go back to their house" is 'harmless conversation' or just some old guy being nice???

If they wanted to give away free presents then they would have had it on their person. Seriously... they know that tech is much more enticing than 'puppies' are these days, its not difficult to understand.

Glad your son was savvy enough to leave and go home, it must have been very scary for you all.

Hope the police get the person concerned.

Stranger danger doesn't exist if the parents are clearly insane.

My friends dd was accosted by a man asking her to take him to the nearest park. Luckily a friends dh stopped the car and then chased him. He was caught and convicted of attempted abduction. He admitted he found her sexy. She was 10!

It's scary

Glad your son is ok.

The posters suggesting the guy was only being nice are being very naive.

Stranger danger doesn't exsist?! WTF is up with some people? I ran screaming into a local shop once after a freak tried to convince me to get into his van (he'd grabbed my arm through the window having stopped me for directions).
Of course I was met with a lot of "are you sure". Well, yes. Of course I was . People get away with it because most people think the best of everyone (nice) but to the point of victim blaming. Obviously I misunderstood the intentions of a leering bloke grabbing my arm at the end of a quiet country road out of our village.
I hope your son is OK, not too shaken it can leave unexpected trust issues every once in a while they may come up.

April Jones

April Jones
Yeah but she was very young wasn't she? I mean wasn't she five ? It's not even debatable if she should have been unsupervised

Thanks to this thread I've just given my 11 year old a refresher course in not going with anyone ever or even stopping to give the time etc. He is pretty clued in so I hope will keep this all in his head. Other DS is a worry. He is 7 and possible ASD (being investigated) he is never unsupervised but will be one day and has no street smarts at all. Very very gullible and would believe almost anything he was told.

Thank you for this thread OP. Just spoken to 5 year old DD about not going off with anyone offering gifts. When initially questioned she said she would because she wants to make friends with people. I told her that if they were good people they would speak to me or her dad first (but that she should always check with us first no matter what they tell her), and she said that she knows everyone is good Hurt a bit to have explain that's not quite true.

Whilst statistically children, or anyone really is at greater risk from someone they know. Incidents with strangers do still happen for children and adults alike. I agree reposting the usual snopes style 3 year old goes missing and found in Asda toilets with hair dyed, cut and different clothes is stirring hysteria. These genuine attempts do need reporting as it could be the beginning of an escalation in behaviour by the person responsible.

That is exactly what happened in my area when I was 10. Guy accosted a few girls here and there (me included) and asked them if there were any toilets nearby. He looked agitated, nervous and lept looking around. When he was told no he asked if I would keep watch while he went. Presumably this was to get me away from the open field and to a more secluded area. I said no and walked towards a group of other people.
Over the next few weeks the police visited my school and wanted to talk to anyone who had seen him. It turns out he had been approaching girls more frequently and his behaviour was concerning enough for the school to tell parents to collect kids of all ages and not allow them to play without adult supervision in that area. Unfortunately a fortnight to 3 weeks later he gave up on the small talk and dragged a poor girl in the same year as me but in a different school into a bush, raped her and beat her so badly he broke a few of her ribs.