Could Your Neighbor Be a Child Predator?

In this day and age, one would think that nearly all parents would be on the defensive when it comes to protecting their children from child predators. After all, it seems one story of child abduction, sexual assault and murder is barely fading from the news reports before a new one flashes itself across our television screens. However, many parents are just not being careful enough, despite the fact that nobody can hide from the reality that our country is riddled with child predators and sex offenders. Many parents may watch their children while out shopping or at the movies, but then send their small children outdoors to play entirely unattended once they return home. Sadly, your own neighborhood may be the one place where your child is most at risk of becoming a victim of a child predator or sex offender.

For the last few years, my family and I have resided at a fairly large apartment community. There are many children residing in the complex, most of whom are sent outdoors to play with absolutely no adult supervision whatsoever. Two summers ago, as I monitored my children while they played outdoors, the father of a neighboring family came outdoors to greet me. I didn't think this odd, as my children were playing with his children at the time. However, what he said to me struck me as very strange. He mentioned that he noticed that either my husband or I always came outside with our children when they played. I confirmed as much, in a tone of voice that I hoped would indicate that I thought it was ridiculous that we are nearly the only parents in our apartment community who do so. The man then attempted to convince me that there was no need for us to do so. His reasoning was that, "our city is very safe". I explained to him that all cities are safe, until something bad happens there. He continued to try to change my mind, as my 5 year old daughter ran and played all around us. I disregarded everything he said, and passed him off in my mind as someone who is just quite ignorant.

Last month, this man was arrested on several counts of sexual abuse. It turns out, he had been sexually abusing his stepdaughters and his own daughter, as well, for the past two years. Each count has the potential to earn him a life sentence according to our state's laws, so it is safe to assume that he will not be returning here. The realization that this child sexual predator lived so closely to us was very distressing. And the fact that he had actually tried to compel me to allow my own little girl outdoors alone makes my skin crawl.

This story proves the point that children may be most at risk of being victimized by a child predator or sex offender when right in their own neighborhood. This particular individual that lived near us was not a registered sex offender, so there was no way for us to know that he was a child predator.

Clearly, it isn't enough for parents to only watch their children closely when out in public places. In order to keep them as safe from child predators and sex offenders as possible, parents must supervise their children closely even when they are only out playing in their own neighborhood. Child predators and sex offenders know which children to target. They will most often target the ones who they have the easiest access to. Don't allow your child to be an easy target.