Residents of San Tan Valley, located 45 miles east of Phoenix, had previously felt secure in their community.
There were a lot of kids playing freely in the streets between the homes and the neighborhood park. However, a recent occurrence has caused panic among the populace.
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On their way home, a 10-year-old girl and her friend were approached by a man in a white SUV. He urged the young woman to board the car. This man, a white man in his forties with a short beard, covered most of his face with his hand during the conversation.
The 10-year-old was alerted to a situation involving her brothers and instructed to board the vehicle as soon as possible. She asked the man “the codeword” as a test because she felt something was off. A red shirt covered his entire body. This unexpected request caused him to flee.
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To increase child safety in these situations, a codeword is frequently advised. Only parents and their children are capable of understanding the codeword.
According to Busy Parents Online, this term ought to be simple for kids to remember but difficult for strangers to figure out.
The right codeword must be used when someone comes to pick up the child; otherwise, the child will not go with them.
Fortunately, the girl’s family had just recently created a codeword system. Her mother, Brenda James, told ABC15, “We thought of it a few months ago. Recently, a story mentioned it. Their timing was fortunate because this straightforward safety measure might have prevented the girl from dying.
Sheriff Mark Lamb believes that this incident should serve as a warning to parents who are concerned about the risks of the internet. Despite the danger posed by online predators, people should exercise caution when in public areas like parks and shopping centers.
Lamb commended the parents for using a codeword and teaching their kids to be wary of strangers. By telling this story, the author hopes to encourage other parents to talk with their kids about safety and to create plans for emergency situations so that their kids will know what to do.
In order to keep their children safe, parents should rely on more than codewords, according to Stu Auty, the founding president of the Canadian Safe School Network and a seasoned education expert with more than 30 years of experience.
Auty advises parents to teach their kids to tell an adult if they think they are being watched and to run to the nearest adult if they are approached by a stranger.
Keeping kids from traveling alone is also essential. Child safety expert Auty emphasizes that kids should never be left alone, especially while traveling to and from school. They need to be accompanied all the time. “.
