After this story was posted 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 the seventh of November. That Wednesday, a deputy was sent home after news of an attempted kidnapping in the area. When the attempt occurred, a 10-year-old girl was approached as she was walking with her friend towards the park. A man in a white SUV approached them, telling the girls that his brothers had had a terrible accident. Then the man asked the girl to accompany him.
The girl, who was prepared by her parents, asked the guy to share the “password” for such a scenario. However, the man was not prepared for this response and left.
Families have used codewords in the past to send secure messages in times of crisis or when parents send another adult to pick up the children. This little girl knew exactly what to ask when 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 incident, Madison, the brave girl who knew the password, went to Good Morning America to share her story. Madison explained that she was scared at that 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 codeword, families can help their children stay safe, even when they are not around. Although Madison was able to stay safe that day, someone else might not have been so lucky. The police are still looking for the driver of the SUV.
In order for parents to be able to protect their children wherever they are, they must ensure that they are properly prepared for any scenario.
