Abductions in Champaign, Urbana
“It’s just so easy to lure a young kid into a car,” said Urbana mother Merianne O’Grady.
Every 40 seconds a child goes missing or is abducted.
Students can protect themselves from being an abduction victim by being aware of their surroundings, playing on the safe side, getting a good description of the person who tries to abduct them, and reporting the situation according to Urbana Police Chief Patrick Connolly.
“It is better to error on the side of caution,” said Connolly.
Staying in well lit areas, keeping music low or off, and being sure to have full vision helps promote a person’s awareness of surroundings.
“Parents need to talk to all of their kids and emphasize the importance of being aware of their surroundings,” said Connolly.
Playing it safe means creating distance when someone approaches and being willing to run away if threatened or yelled at.
“I think people should protect themselves more,” said sophomore Naomi Johnson.
Attempting to get a detailed description is important, but people should not put themselves in danger to get the description. Descriptions usually include the vehicle’s color, model, or license plate, and a description of the person themselves, with details such as gender, skin color, hair, facial hair, tattoos, identifying marks, or approximate age.
If the police ask someone to describe something, they prefer if the person admits to being unsure or not remember rather than making up a description that may be inaccurate. Each accurate detail helps the police department detectives find the criminal.
“I’m not going to sleep well and I’m sure no other parents will either until they are caught,” said Urbana Middle School English teacher Chuck Koplinski.
Always report the situation as soon as possible. Police want you to call them for any worry you have. Calling the non-emergency number is always acceptable, and calling 911 is acceptable as long as the person has a specific and legitimate reason. If someone is in danger, they should call 911 immediately.
“We want you to call us. Don’t be afraid to call the police,” said Connolly.
Urbana police department detectives meet often to piece together evidence concerning every attempted abduction. However, no one has been arrested for the abduction attempts and parents should always be cautious. To ensure the safety of their children, parents need to be sure their children understand the dangers and how to promote their safety.
“[My son] is well aware there are people out there willing to do harm, which is a sad thing to tell a seven year old,” said Urbana father Ray Sommers.
About The Author
I remember when these attempts were happening, I was freaking out. I told my sisters & brother & their friends to stay away from strangers, & even if they knew the person to ALWAYS CHECK WITH THEIR PARENTS before going with someone. & to never lie about where they’re going. It really freaked me out. I was constantly checking up on my siblings.