Non-family abductions/ Kidnap
People go missing everyday. It’s not always
their choice. Often times, people are abducted- sometimes out of their own homes, sometimes off the street, even in
a shopping mall or park. Many people think, “Well, I live in a safe neighborhood with little crime, so that could
never happen to me.” Wrong. In fact, most home abductions happen in those “safe neighborhoods.”
Statistics show that the people who are most likely to get abducted (by someone not in the family)
are actually females, ages 18-35.
You may ask, “Well, why would someone want
to kidnap?” The motives behind the abductor vary, but obviously they also depend on circumstances. Some
people abduct for financial reasons (to steal their money, and fake their disappearance). Some abduct for
the sole purpose for rape and then murder. Some abduct just because they want to make money off a girl (they will prostitute
them). Others abduct just to kill them. Why would they want to kill them? Usually it’s to cover up
the rape so they’re not caught, but unfortunately some people just get pleasure out of committing murder.
Many people say, “Well, what’s the chances
of me being abducted, anyway? The odds are so slim, so I’m not worried about it.” Wrong. We
don’t always hear about people being kidnapped, because unfortunately the media has disclosed much of those cases from
the public for various reasons.
Precautions to take, that can help increase your chances of not being kidnapped:
*Never walk in an alleyway, not under any circumstance. Many abductions
take place when a person walks down an alleyway alone. If you don’t know, an alleyway is a dark, isolated street,
usually in a city. People who have the intent to rape will actually wait in an alleyway, hide behind a shrub, for example,
and then incapacitate the victim.
*Never walk anywhere that is isolated alone, especially at nighttime.
Most abductions take place in an isolated area. This includes the alleyway percentage.
*Never sleep with your house unlocked. A substantial percentage of abductions
occur right out of your own home, usually at night. The abductor will usually spy on the victim, and so they get to
see what their lifestyle is like, and when they arrive home, etc. The people who are most susceptible to this
situation are young females who live alone or who the stalker knows will be home alone at a certain point during the night.
**Most abductions occur during the hours of 10 PM and 4 AM. ** So, if you are a female who lives alone,
it is best for you to make sure your house is very secure.
*If you must walk alone in any circumstance, call someone on your cell phone
to talk to- let them know exactly where you are, and if you notice anything suspicious let them know everything in as much
detail as possible. Even tell them what you’re wearing… that’s because if for some reason you are
abducted, they can search for clothing too.
*Always stay in contact with others throughout the day. Make sure there
is someone whom you can tell where you will be. Make sure at least one person is consciously aware of what you’re
wearing that day. **If someone is abducted, the first thing the police would do is investigate the scene as to where
they were last known to be. That’s why it’s good to make sure at least one person knows where you are at
all times, if possible, so that way if you are abducted, the people who are searching for you will be able to hopefully find
you faster!! **Many abductions are never solved because no one knew what their agenda was for the day. And if
the agenda was realized after the fact, sometimes it’s still not so clear. So try to make your agenda as clear
as possible to at least one person whom you can confide in. If your agenda changes, let them know.
*Send text messages to friends/family whenever you get a free chance, letting
them know nonchalantly what you’re up to.
*Try to avoid driving down an alleyway or in bad areas in cities. Don’t
assume that you’re totally safe just because you’re in a car. Some abductions actually occur when you’re
in an alleyway driving, usually because there are no cameras so the abductor doesn’t fear stopping your vehicle.
*When you’re not at work, use your cell phone once an hour. This
way if anything happens, with the technology that‘s out there now, the calls can be traced back to a marked location.
*Never let strangers in your home, and try to avoid going into a stranger’s
home. If you must go into a stranger’s home, make sure you let everyone know their address and the reason for
your visit (example: cleaning their home if you’re a maid).
*ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE ALERT. This is the best one of all.
Always look behind you if you have to walk alone. DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION THAT COULD GET YOU HURT.
Of course it wouldn’t be your fault if you did, but if you are aware of the dangers out there, you may be more cautious.
Abductions are not publicized enough, and they are more common then
most people realize. Many people go missing for their whole lives- some go missing for months, some years. (I’m
not talking about those people who decide to disappear and abandon others. I’m talking about those who got kidnapped.
Sometimes we don’t find out what happens to them until it’s too late.)
**Unfortunately, most abductions result in murder. In result,
the family ends up suffering because they often times don’t get closure because they still search for someone who is
“alive”. Even just by following the advice I gave about staying in contact with others, it would make someone
much easier to be located should they be murdered as a result. (Often times, the bodies of victims are never found.)
Sometimes we can find their body by using clues that are given, usually including their whereabouts before the incident.
That’s why it’s best to keep in contact with others and letting them know your whereabouts! This could save
years and years of worries for families of victims.
If someone from your life goes missing, do everything you can to help search
for them. Don’t assume that they just “walked out on you.” Don’t assume that they chose
that life. They may have been abducted. We must always give them the benefit of the doubt!!
PEOPLE THAT GO MISSING ARE USUALLY PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND I. THEY ARE
SOMEONE’S DAUGHTER, SOMEONE’S SON, SOMEONE’S MOTHER, MAYBE FATHER.
Please help and speak to others about this problem that the world is facing
right now. Not enough is done for people who go missing. That is why I’m trying to create awareness of this.
Sometimes the cases are just “dismissed”. Sure, we time to time hear about a few cases of people who go
missing. But we hear about the same ones and we neglect to hear about the other
MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE MISSING.
How can I help?
The best way for any citizen to help is by supporting this cause and
speaking to others, by being safe, by promoting safety to others, BY BEING AWARE OF OTHERS (I’ll explain this in a moment),
and by looking at photos of people who are missing.
I know it sounds strange, but many times people are recovered
just by someone watching the news who says, “Hey, I saw that guy at the mall today!” Then, they trace back
the video tape, and the guy is with the abductor. That’s why I mentioned to be aware of others. Try
to pay attention to others’ faces. If you ever see anything suspicious, take a mental note. **Those are
the clues that usually lead to tips of people who are abducted**
For example, there is a case in which a man is sitting in the parking lot of
an elementary school in a beat-up truck… just sitting there. Now, most people wouldn’t think anything of
it. But one of the teachers who was walking to his car thought it seemed a little odd and he took a mental note of what
the car and the driver looked like. A few days later, a child was declared missing from that school. The man who
saw the suspicious vehicle was able to describe the person to authorities and eventually he was captured with his help.
So YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE... JUST ALWAYS BE AWARE!!!!
