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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 8:35pm | IP Logged
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This past Saturday around sunset a man in a red cargo van tried to lure a little girl who lives down the street from me into his van saying he had lost his puppy and needed her help to find it. The little girl ran away from him, and the family immediately called the police. The next morning another guy tried to physically snatch a older boy (about 10) who was out running with his running club in a public area. The boy had just finished running and had stopped in the lobby of the nearby hotel to use the bathroom. The man tried to snatch him right out of the lobby. He struggled and got away.
This is terrifying to me. I live in a very nice, supposedly "safe" area. But, I have to admit that kids of all ages run up and down my street, some of them quite young and with no parents in sight. I have been considered the "oddball" because I won't let my kids go outside unless I am there. Even if they go to play in a neighbor's yard, I go with them, because my ds is only 4 and doesn't have all the street smarts to stay safe. The other moms have thought I was being ridiculous. Until Saturday.
Please watch your kids. If they are outside, stay with them. If they are walking to a friend's house, walk with them. The world is so full of creepy people. It's not worth taking chances.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Michaela
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| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
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Thanks be to God no harm came to those children!
We used to live in a neighborhood that I was laughed at for watching Nicholas who was three years old at the time "like a hawk".  I just didn't get letting such a young child have run of the neighborhood.
It hurt to have the momson my street laugh at me, but after a few incidents where a child was molesting her playmates all those moms were on their porch whenever their children were outside.
One neighbor who worked in the mental health department warned me to never trust anyone. His office received all the applications for home daycare on post & he said I'd be very suprised who on our street couldn't qualify because of investigations of molestation on their record.
We live in a very nice neighborhood, however over the summer there were two attempts to abduct boys.
Yeah, when my kids are out front, I watch them like a hawk....and I honestly don't care what anyone says. They can play outback with much less supervision. I watch from our sunroom or step outside to make sure everything is ok.
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 10:50pm | IP Logged
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How scary!
Isn't there a site where one can look up their neighborhood and find those who may have records? I thought it was familywatchdog.org or com?
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 7:40am | IP Logged
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I never let my kids play where I can't see them. It drives them nuts. My son has visions of long solo bike rides this spring and it's just not going to happen. It's sad.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 12 2007 at 3:08pm | IP Logged
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There are places to look up the location of offenders - However that only tells you those that have reported, those that have been caught, etc. Prudence dictates that we watch all our children.
I have been viewed as paranoid by some because I would not let my dc take walks through the neighborhood alone or go into public restrooms alone. In this case, however, a mistake in being a little more cautious might create some angst in the children, but would not result in life-long trauma. Being too careless, might.
I also found that often people would understand the caution with girls more and think you were nuts with young boys - but lately more of the events seem to be directed against young/ preteen boys. There was an incident in the county where a teen had a bike wreck in front of a house - and was grabbed into the house and molested before he could get back on his bike - just happened that a jerk lived at that house.  We are not a big city - and viewed as one of the safer places to live.
Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes when you have older and younger, you get too relaxed with your younger ones as a result of becoming realistically more relaxed with the teens.
Janet
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amyable
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| Posted: Jan 12 2007 at 3:54pm | IP Logged
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I'm sorry you are having to deal with this, Melinda. We have had a big increase in violent crime in our neighborhood, seemingly out of nowhere. I understand how disconcerting it is. 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Chari
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| Posted: Jan 12 2007 at 11:30pm | IP Logged
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WOW, I am SO not alone........I have always been the same waywatching like a hawk..........Will pray everything stays safe in your neighborhood, Melinda. Thanks for the reminder!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Attempted abduction in my neighborhood
