Norkem SAPS warns parents after alleged abduction

Norkem Park SAPS spokesperson Sgt Barbara Ferreira urged parents to be aware of their children’s whereabouts.

Ferreira said on August 3 at about 17:00 a girl went to a shop in Matumi Street where she was allegedly abducted and taken to an unknown house in Kaalfontein.

“She was blindfolded when they covered her head with a bag. Later a man removed the bag and told his accomplices they took the wrong girl,” Ferreira said.

“She was again blindfolded and transported to the new Thembisa testing station where they dropped her off. The girl walked to her house in Esselen Park before she was taken to her parents’ house.”

She requested anyone with information about the abduction to contact her on 071 675 6807.

ALSO READ: Beware cellphone theft, warns RAG

Stats
It’s been reported that a child goes missing every five hours in our country.

According to Missing Children South Africa, 23% of the children are either never found, trafficked or found dead. Advice to parents and children:

• Eyes open
Always keep an eye out for strangers loitering nearby. Avoid being distracted by your phone or other devices and duties or activities that you aren’t fully aware of your surroundings. Kidnappings happen in a matter of seconds. If you see anything untoward, report it to the authorities.

• Avoid dangerous areas
Avoid spots where you can become easily separated from your children and where they can disappear in the masses. Teach your children to always be in a well-protected and monitored area, where a responsible adult or authority is nearby. Also, start right at your doorstep and make sure that your home is thoroughly secured against would-be kidnappers.

• Who are you going to call?
A two-way line of communication should be available between parents and children at all times. Instruct your children to call you immediately when something is amiss or when there’s a change in plans that they haven’t cleared with you, even if it comes from someone they know well. They should also know their address, home phone number, cellphone number and emergency contact numbers.

• ID check
Instil a healthy sense of scepticism in your children. When someone claims to be an official or to know you, insist that they check with you to verify this.

• Keep your friends close
Children should always be close to their parents, particularly in busy, public spaces.
If your children go out, they should always take a friend with them, especially to a place they haven’t been before. Ideally, a responsible adult should also be in the vicinity in case something goes awry.

• Make sure the school has done its homework
Your child’s school must have proactive measures in place against kidnapping and enforce these to ensure your child’s safety.

• Have a backup plan
Your children should always know what they should do and where they should meet you if they are lost in a public area. This will help even if you don’t have cellphone reception.

• Move as fast as you can, make as much noise as possible.
If someone follows your children, tries to restrain them or force them into a car, they should run and scream as loudly as they can.

• Tracking apps and panic buttons
Use technology at your disposal to know where your children are at all times and to allow them to alert you immediately if need be.

Who is at risk?
According to the National Co-ordinator of Missing Children South Africa, Bianca van Aswegen, children between the ages of 0 to five years old are the most vulnerable.

“They are very young and don’t realise the dangers out there or the dangers people can potentially be to them,” she said.

“We also deal with cases where children are kidnapped or taken for human trafficking purposes, family abductions, opportunistic kidnappings and human trafficking.

“The only solution is to keep an eye on your child all the time and take extra special precautions to keep them safe, especially when you’re out and about. It takes two seconds for a child to disappear.

“Dress young children in bright coloured clothes when going to public places or shopping malls so that they’re easily seen and stand out in a crowd. Children are inquisitive and tend to wander off by themselves,” van Aswegen said.

Missing Children South Africa urges parents to follow these safety tips to make South Africa a safer place for our children:
• Teach your children that even people they know can try to harm them, so they should tell you if another family member or family friend is doing something that makes them feel bad or uncomfortable.
• Teach them that no one is ever allowed to touch their body.
• Know where your child is at all times, who they are with and what they are wearing.
• Always keep a recent photo of your child with you so you have it available in case of an emergency.
• Teach your child his name and address as well as your name and number.
• Teach your child not to walk away with anyone other than you or the person who is taking care of him.
• If you have a special needs child, get him a bracelet with emergency contact numbers on the bracelet.
• Teach your child never to get into a car with a stranger, for any reason.
• Let your child know that it’s okay to behave ‘badly’, to bite, kick, claw and scream when someone grabs them.
• Teach your child to say “I don’t know him/her. He/she wants to take me away.” This will often scare the person trying to take your child.
• Teach your child not to open the door for anyone. Let your child know that they don’t have to talk to strangers. They should stand at a safe distance from the person and if the conversation lasts for longer than five to seven seconds, they should leave and find you. Show them what a safe distance looks like.

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