My son has runaway

[Wario54]

My son has runaway from home. We had an argument this morning because he didn't want to go to school and he stormed out.

He is 10 (almost 11). The school called me and told me he hadn't arrived. I've tried calling and texting him but had no reply. I've called the police and they are out searching for him. His Dad and sister are currently driving round the area (and friends houses etc) in the hope of spotting him. I'm going out of my mind with worry 😭 he's never done this before.

Do you have a police liaison with you OP? Have they checked phone location?

oh gosh I hope he comes home

Can you look at his laptop/other devices history?

You need to share locally, not just with relatives. If there’s a year group chat ask them to share it and let you know if they have any info on whereabouts . Police take missing children very seriously so it’ll likely end up in papers if not found soon. You must be so worried. Have the police given any advice ?

Not helpful - a lot of 10 year olds walk to school on their own.

The OP said the school made her aware that he hadn’t arrived and clearly she thinks he has run away as they had an argument this morning.

Make it public .
Have you got a local area page- everything Exeter, or whatever? If so share on there.

Is there a school WhatsApp group? Tell them.

Lots of year 6 children walk to school where I live, it’s not unusual at all.

How is this helpful- it is entirely normal for a 10 year old to walk to school alone- he’ll be at secondary in less than a year. How do you know school didn’t contact her immediately?

How helpful. 🙄 Many, many kids of that age walk to school alone (mine included). And the OP’s first post details that the school rang when he hadn’t arrived.

It's perfectly normal for 10yo's to walk to and from school on their own.

Don't try and victim blame the OP. It's not a good look.

Oh God this! My friend came home from her youngest’s school run thinking her large front bay window looked odd. Got closer and realised it was completely smashed to smithereens. Her older son who would have arrived half an hour before was also missing.

Huge search that evening stretching to nearby towns. He’d set up camp in a bush in the garden following a rogue powerball incident that broke the window!

has he got older friends he might be hanging around with?

Maybe have a word with yourself about how completely unhelpful this post is! Most year 6 children walk to school and they got in touch asap. Consider how you would feel if your child was missing and someone blamed you like this.

Yes but if they’re still looking this many hours later and not escalating then I’d be surprised. So I’m wondering if OP delayed reporting to police thinking he’ll turn up.
Yes but he could’ve stormed off and gone to school. If it were my child I’d assume maybe gone to park to burn off some energy, or someone interfered with a similar action plan. I wouldn’t jump to running away when they’ve got nothing on them and obviously their friends will be at school and mums would’ve contacted if turned up there.

As others have said, post on your local facebook pages (doesn't have to be you, can be a friend whatever.)
Include a photo.
Describe what he was wearing.
Make sure to include the police reference number there, and encourage people to phone the police if they see him.

How worrying. Share on WhatsApp as his photo will be forwarded onto various local WhatsApp groups so quickly eg school class groups, nursery groups etc
a boy went missing near me recently and his photo pinged up on my phone at least 3 times

He stormed out
They did

You do realise many 10 year olds walk to school on their own

Stop. You're just being unkind at this point.

I work in a school and year 5/year 6 kids are allowed to walk to and from school as long as there is parental approval.

Does he have Google on his phone? You can find your device with Google if the phone is linked to a Google account

I walk to school from the age of four and my dd from the age of five.