RCS school officials issued an alert to parents and
residents on Friday, warning them to be on the look out for
a possible child abductor.
The district received from the New York State Police on
Friday a notice warning of an attempted abduction of a
13-year-old on Scheller Park Road in the town of New
Baltimore on Thursday. The child had allegedly exited a
school bus when she was approached by male driving a newer
model black SUV with darkened windows who attempted to lure
her into his vehicle. The girl ran away and contacted her
mother by cell phone.
While the youth involved was a student of the
Coxsackie-Athens School District, the town of New Baltimore
is served by both RCS and the Coxsackie schools and all area
parents are encouraged to take extra precautions.
A
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children brochure
recommends:
Instruct
your child to always TAKE A FRIEND when walking
or riding his or her bike to and from school. It’s safer
and more fun to be with your friends
Even
though there is safety in numbers, it is still not safe
for young children to walk to and from school especially
if they must take isolated routes before or during
daylight. Always provide supervision for your young
children to help ensure their safe arrival to and from
school.
Your
child should stay with a group while waiting at the bus
stop. If anyone bothers your child while going to or
from school, you should teach him or her to get away
from that person, and TELL you or another trusted
adult. If an adult approaches your child for help or
directions, remember grownups needing help should not
ask children for help; they should ask other adults.
Instruct
your children if anyone they don’t know or a person who
confuses, scares, or makes them feel uncomfortable
offers a ride, say NO. Children should never
hitchhike. Also children should never accept a ride from
anyone unless you have told them it is OK to do so in
each instance.
Tell
your children that if anyone follows them on foot to get
away from him or her as quickly as possible. If anyone
follows them in a vehicle they should turn around, go in
the other direction, and try to quickly get to a spot
where a trusted adult may help them. Advise them to be
sure to TELL you or another trusted adult what
happened.
Teach
your children if anyone tries to take them somewhere
they should quickly get away and yell, “This person is
trying to take me away” or “This person is not my
father/mother/guardian.” If anyone tries to grab them,
teach them to make a scene and every effort to get away
by kicking, screaming, and resisting.
