The number of children reported missing in the U.S is about 800,000 every year. But this figure can be misleading, as it includes many incidents where the child is not actually abducted, but where there may have been miscommunication regarding the child’s whereabouts, for instance.
Below is a breakdown of child abduction statistics, reported by YgoY.com, an on-line publisher of health and lifestyle information. The statistics are intended to help clear up some of the stereotypical thinking surrounding missing children circumstances, as well as clarify the realities that can and do exist in many cases.
General children abduction statistics
• Of the children reported missing, 350,000 are taken by family members in violation of custody agreements.
• There are about 204,000 non-family-member abductions occurring each year. The assailants are acquaintances or complete strangers to the victims.
• Only 115 of non-family abductions are “stereotypical,” meaning they involve taking a child overnight, transporting at least 50 miles, demanding ransom or intentions to keep the child permanently or kill him or her.
• The remaining of the total of 800,000 missing children cases include runaways, abandoned, or lost children.
Family abductions
• In 16% of family abductions, the child experiences severe mental harm.
• 8% of the children experience physical harm.
• 7% of the children are sexually abused.
• Mothers take the child 46% of the time and fathers take the child 54% of the time.
Non-Family abductions
• More than 65% of the children abducted by non-family members are girls.
• 46% of children are sexually abused.
• 31% of the children are physically abused.
• 32% of abductions take place in a street or a car and 25% take place in a park or a wooded area.
• The top 3 places an abductor imprisons the child are – a car, the abductor’s home and the abductor’s building.
• Most abductions occur within a quarter of a mile of the child’s home.
• 75% of the abductors are male.
• 67% of them are below 29 years of age.
Stereotypical kidnappings
• 40% of children in “stereotypical” kidnappings are killed.
• 4% of children are never found.
• 79% kidnappings are carried out by strangers and 21% by acquaintances.
Nearly 75% of the parents in U.S fear that their children might become victims of abduction.
Related links:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US
http://www.childconnection.org/missing.htm
http://www.pollyklaas.org/about/
Comments
The source for this article (I tried to include a link, but the comment system won't let me. Go to ygoy.com and search on "abduction") does not cite any source for these statistics. They could be legitimate, or they could come out of thin air.
I'm sorry that you felt the need to delete my point that neither this article nor its source cite the original source of the data. As a left behind parent myself (I have not seen my son for over 3 years), I am very interested to see that the truth of the matter be properly publicized and I laud your efforts. However, as with any controversial topic, it is important that information be correct and traceable. Perhaps you will leave this version of my comment up.
Oops, sorry, my mistake! I had the wrong settings on my browser and could not see the comment although it was there.
What an informative article. I have a 7 year old daughter who I talk to all the time about safety and to not talk to strangers. Last summer we went to the county fair as we always do but this year we brought along her friend, the Child Guard Panda. This nifty device allows me to have a little more peace of mind for such a low investment. She wears the panda on her wrist and I keep the key chain. The key chain will sound an alarm to me to let me know if she has wondered off. This is a great way to be able to go to public events with my child and not have to worry. I bought this device at the below website:
www.personal1protecion.com
If you enter in this promotional code under “comments” they will even throw in a free gift: 31758
I think your article statement "Mothers take the child 46% of the time and fathers take the child 54% of the time." is backward, according to amberalert.com mothers take the child 54% leaving fathers taking the child 46%.
Thanks so much for writing this article.
In the U.S. each year, 110 kids under 5 died in bathtubs. About 900 people die every year riding bicycles. 20,000 people die from the common flu. 120 die from lightening strikes.
As this article correctly states, only 115 kids in a country of 300 million people are taken each year in the stereotypical-type abduction that everyone fears.
When you consider how many kids will have their lives shortened by being obese, it seems parents should be far more concerned about their child not getting to go outside and play. This misplaced "stranger danger" fear on the part of freaked out parents who have heard one too many over reported Jon Benet stories is robbing our children of the childhoods we all once enjoyed.
Contrary to popular belief, the stats show things are no more dangerous now than they were when we were kids. In fact, kids have things like cell phones and GPS that we did not have.
My mom would have loved that! :-)
A reason to believe these stats aren't pulled out of thin air would be nice...
I think everyone has missed the point. There are REAL child PREDATORS at large and they could be your next door neighbors, a family member, and if there are good enough, you wouldn't know. They won't have a record, they won't seem too abnormal compared to the general urban/rural resident. Their "job" as a predator is to keep you in the blank and feeling goodie goodie, so they can fulfill their insane plot with someones' child. You may think it's an extreme measure to protect your child against "stranger danger" until you have a horrible reality hit you, if you don't teach your child simple skills of protection!
BE REAL! THIS HAPPENS and MOFO's are looking for the death chamber!!!!!!!!
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