Child Reports Being Approached By Strangers In Grey SUV, Police Notified

On Monday, Jan. 30, two strangers in a car approached a Brown Middle School student getting off of a bus after school at the intersection of Neck Road and Blakeman, the father of that student says.

The student, a 9-year-old boy, had just turned down his street off of Neck Road, when the car followed him and pulled up next to him, the father said. "They told him, 'get into the car, we're taking you home,'" he said. His son said, "No. I'm all set. Thank you anyway," and quickly walked away, the father said.

The father, who is not being identified to protect the identity of his son, said that he and his wife have notified neighbors, the Madison Police Department, Brown Middle School, and the Durham Bus Company, which provides school transportation to the town. A police officer visited the family's home Monday night and took a statement from the boy and his mother.

The father said that his son, who is fascinated by cars, was able to provide a detailed description of the car to police. The car was a silver grey sports utility vehicle with four doors. The father said that his son thought the man and the woman in the car were in their mid-40s.

Police confirmed that they are aware of the incident, and that they have stepped up patrols in town. The information has been passed on to all shifts, they said. On Wednesday, as school buses dropped off children on Neck Road, an officer on patrol had parked his car and was talking with parents. The officer declined to comment to Patch and referred questions to the police department.

Anita Rutlin, Madison Public Schools interim superintendent, sent out a note to parents Wednesday afternoon, letting them know about the reported incident.

"An incident was brought to our attention this week regarding a quick thinking student who was on his way home from school.  Two strangers in a gray Mazda offered a ride to the student.  The student refused, left immediately, and got home safely," Rutlin said in an email. "We want to take this opportunity to ask you to review with your children, the good safety practice of never accepting a ride from a stranger." 

Most children being dropped off in that neighborhood off of Neck Road were met by parents Wednesday afternoon, as is often the case, and, for one who wasn't, the bus driver waited until the child was inside her house before the bus driver went to the next stop.

Police said that while they do not have any other specifics about the incident that it's always a good idea for parents to always know where their children are, who they are with, and what they are doing.

Experts say that most abductions of children are committed by people that the children know, but they add that parents are well advised to teach their children about how to deal with strangers, and how to set boundaries when they are uncomfortable.

"Parents need to give their children permission to scream," said Katherine M. Brown, an assistant professor at the University of New Haven who specializes in child victimization and child abductions. "They need to know that adults are not going to ask a child for directions, they are not going to ask a child for help, and that if they do, it's OK to scream and run away."

Brown also recommended that children and parents agree to a code word that is kept secret. Then, if an acquaintance has to be sent to pick up a child on short notice, that code word can be used. "And once that code word is used, it should be changed," Brown added.

Unfortunately, children are most likely to be harmed by a relative or someone they know, so having an overall discussion about setting boundaries is always a good idea. But Brown said reports of incidents like these are a good reminder that child abductions by strangers, while rare, can sometimes be prevented if children are counseled to trust their instincts and take action when they feel threatened.