Abduction.
A parent’s worst nightmare.
Understanding why a predator abducts children can help you be more aware of potential dangers that threaten your child. and help you protect your family.
Abduction of children by total strangers is so rare that investigators would consider it only after more likely motives are examined. Three primary motives drive offenders to abduct children: emotion based, profit based and sexual based.
Emotion
This is typically a non-custodial parent. It is an offence to move a child from one state to another without the consent of the legal parent or guardian. If you believe your ex-spouse might abduct your child, you must:
- Instruct everyone who cares for your child that they must never release
him or her to anyone but you. - Report your concerns to police.
- Ask for monitored visitation.
- Never permit the non-custodial parent to have access to any form of your child’s identification, such as a birth certificate, social insurance number, passport, or health card.
Profit
Motive defines the difference between kidnapping and abduction. When an abductor intends to demand a ransom, confines a child against their will or transports a child by law they are kidnapped.
The profit motive is not always for money. It can also include selling or trading the child to other pedophiles for child sex rings or pornography. This predator carefully plans his crime and escape. He is familiar with his surroundings, the child, and likely the family.
Parents must be cautious of anyone who appears to be too friendly or who shows too much interest in their children. If you have even the slightest doubt about someone, make certain your children are protected and remove that person from your surroundings.
Sexual
Child molesters act out their sexual fantasies on children. A situational child molester may not prefer a child as a sex partner, but if the situation arises, he may act on a fantasy. If this person also has low social capabilities, he is more likely to abduct.
Someone who prefers to have sex with children, a pedophile, seeks out victims he can abuse over a period of time in a home, school or church, for example, but he will not always abduct his victims.
Parents should be cautious of anyone who shows an unusual amount of interest in their children or their activities. The family almost always knows the abductor – often simply a friend of a friend.
Arm yourself with knowledge – learn numerous ways you can protect your child.
Most importantly, know that you, as a parent, have the natural ability to sense when your child is in danger.
Listen to your inner voice.
Trust it.
Act on it.
It is always right.
Comments