Residents in San Tan Valley, 45 miles east of Phoenix, had previously felt safe in their neighborhood.
The streets between the houses and the neighborhood park were bustling with children free to play. A recent event, though, has generated panic among the people.
A 10-year-old girl and her friend were walking home when a man in a white SUV approached them. He tried to persuade the girl to get in the automobile. During the discussion, this individual, a white male in his 40s with a short beard, covered most of his face with his hand.
The 10-year-old was informed of an incident involving her brothers and was asked to join the vehicle as soon as possible. Sensing something was wrong, she tested the man by asking for “the codeword.” He was dressed in a crimson shirt. He fled as a result of this unexpected request.
In such instances, a codeword is frequently recommended to improve child safety. The codeword is a secret term that only parents and their children understand.
According to Busy Parents Online, this term should be easy for children to remember yet challenging for strangers to guess.
When someone comes to pick up the kid, they must use the correct codeword; otherwise, the child will not accompany them.
The girl’s family, fortunately, had recently developed a codeword system. Brenda James, her mother, told ABC15, “We came up with it a few months ago.” It was mentioned in a recent story.” Their timing was fortunate, as this simple precaution could have saved the girl’s life.
Sheriff Mark Lamb believes this occurrence should serve as a wake-up call to parents preoccupied with online hazards. While internet predators are a threat, people should also be cautious in public places like malls and parks.
Lamb praised the child’s parents for using a codeword and encouraging their children to be cautious of strangers. Sharing this story aims to urge other parents to have similar conversations with their children and make safety plans to ensure they know how to behave if they find themselves in a similar scenario.
Stu Auty, the founding president of the Canadian Safe School Network and an experienced education expert with over 30 years of expertise, advises parents to rely on more than codewords to keep their children safe.
Auty recommends that parents train their children to inform an adult if they believe they are being watched and to seek the nearest adult if approached by a stranger.
It is also critical to keep children from traveling alone. “Children should never be left alone, especially when traveling to and from school,” Auty emphasizes. They should constantly be accompanied.”
