Most Abduction Assaults are Preventable – awk! That’s a mighty bold statement.  Family members and victims of assaults sure don’t want to hear that.  Yet when it comes to your personal safety, some times we have to talk about some things that aren’t terribly warm and fuzzy.

Communities around the country have been hit hard by the recent downturn in our economy.  Although it appears that we have turned the corner,  it will take some time before businesses return and open their doors again.  In the meantime, many vacant storefronts will continue to present real danger to our safety and well-being. These threats are not to be taken lightly as recounted in the excerpt below.

Recent headlines in a Midwest town read: “A 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in the bathroom at the Outlet Mall Center early Saturday evening, police say.”

This incident draws attention to the recent attack of an unaccompanied minor who did nothing to provoke her perpetrator—she merely was heading to the restroom.  Unfortunately, her pathway led her along a desolate hallway at an Outlet Mall, where business was adversely impacted by these economic times, forcing tenants to close their doors.  For the property owners, the reduction in revenue forced down-staffing and mall security suffered as a consequence—a hard lesson that will undoubtedly haunt this innocent fifth grader.  An even sadder burden is the guilt that the child’s guardian must now bear.

While the child was allowed to proceed to the restroom, the mother remained within the relative security of the family vehicle. After a time when the girl did not return, a younger sibling went in alone after her elementary-aged sister and came face to face with the perpetrator as he exited the hallway (after the crime had been committed). Sensing that something was amiss, the sibling quickly returned to her mother. It was then that the mother left the comfort of her car to check on her young daughter. Sadly she came upon her traumatized child whom had just been sexually assaulted.

In hindsight it is clear that this crime was wholly preventable. Although the child was violated in the worst way imaginable, she fortunately escaped with her life and given the proper help will recover. Events such as these present us with some hard lessons learned:

• Never permit a child to enter a public restroom alone – at any age, at any time.
• If something appears remiss, do not send a younger child in to investigate.
• Complacency is to Parenting as oil is to water.

If you’re like most with a pulse, news stories such as the one above leaves a pit in your stomach.  Unfortunately crimes such as this happen on a far too frequent basis across the country.

It is extremely important to adopt the mindset of maintaining a constant vigil for threats and personal security hazards that exist in the world we live.  When children are in our care, that level of vigilance must be elevated to an even higher state.  We encourage you to seek out advice on how to recognize these security pitfalls and provide for your personal safety and security—if not through ASC, then through other sources.  The important point is not to let another hour pass before taking the first real step toward personal protection.

At ASC, we firmly believe no one ever deserves to be a victim—this holds especially true of children.  We also understand that as parents we have an obligation to stand together and to do absolutely everything within our power to provide for their safety and security.

Awareness of risk factors and the necessity of taking extra precautions can go a long way toward early detection and prevention of abductions and assaults.   As Benjamin Franklin said, “It’s easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.”

Public restroom safety is a topic that Ayers On the Side of Caution addresses on a regular basis.  It’s an often overlooked, yet vital issue.  It is a message that needs to be shared with parents of children of all ages; and reiterated frequently.

While this family is suffering enough and no doubt the little girl will have life long scars from the incident, do you think the mother should be charged with child endangerment?  Why or why not?