After this story was published online, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office warned the rest of the world to be careful and follow the same strategies these parents used.
The story takes place on November 7th. That Wednesday, a deputy was sent home after news of an attempted kidnapping in the area. When the attempt happened, a 10-year-old girl was approached as she was walking with her friend towards the park. A man in a white SUV rode up to them and told the girls that his siblings had been in a terrible accident. The guy went to ask the girl to come with him.
The girl, prepared by her parents, asked the guy to share the “password” for such a scenario. However, the man was unprepared for this response and left.
Families have used passwords in the past to send secure messages in times of crisis or when parents send another adult to pick up the kids.
This little girl didn’t know what to ask when she was approached by a stranger claiming to have information about her siblings. Al-Sharif points out that more families need to spread the word about the danger of strangers and start teaching their children code words.
After the crash, Madison, the brave girl who knew the password, took to Good Morning America to share her story. Madison explained that she was terrified during this moment, but knew she had to make sure she could trust the man. Parents should use this story to educate their children about the dangers of talking to a stranger.
By creating a password, families can help their children stay safe, even when they’re not around. Although Madison was able to stay safe that day, someone else may not have been so lucky. Police are still looking for the driver of the SUV.
In order for parents to be able to protect their children from anywhere, they must ensure that they are properly prepared for any scenario.
