Life Lessons Learned

Kidnapping happens all the time. According to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) 85% to 90% of all missing persons reported were juveniles. There are three types of kidnappings within the United States, according to the United States Department of Justice. The three types of kidnapping are: "family" kidnapping (49%), acquittance kidnapping (27%), and stranger kidnapping (24%).

Family kidnapping is committed primarily by parents, involves a larger percentage of female perpetrators (43 percent) than other types of kidnapping offenses, occurs more frequently to children under 6, equally victimizes juveniles of both sexes, and most often originates in the home.

Acquaintance kidnapping has features that suggest it should not be lumped with stranger kidnapping into the single category of non-family kidnapping, as has been done in the past. Acquaintance kidnapping involves a comparatively high percentage of juvenile perpetrators, has the largest percentage of female and teenage victims, is more often associated with other crimes (especially sexual and physical assault), occurs at homes and residences, and has the highest percentage of injured victims.

Stranger kidnapping victimizes more females than males, occurs primarily at outdoor locations, victimizes both teenagers and school-age children, is associated with sexual assaults in the case of girl victims and robberies in the case of boy victims (although not exclusively so), and is the type of kidnapping most likely to involve the use of a firearm.

Now that you know the statistics, here is my life lesson.

It was in the spring and my son was about 4 months old. My mom, dad, myself and my son went to the Dollar General Store. Everything was just fine. We walked around looking at stuff and my dad said he was going to look at guys' stuff. Anyway, my mother and I did not think anything about it.

So, we were looking around and I turned my back for a split second. In that split second, my dad took the cart with my son (at the time I did not know it was my dad). I turned and my son was gone. Imagine my panic. I was searching and my mother was searching. My dad was waiting and when my panic became fear, my dad showed up with my son. I instantly picked him up and checked him over.

My dad gave me a hug and he said "Next time it will not be me taking your son. Keep your eyes open and never let him out of your sight."

So, the lesson was learned that anyone can grab a child and disappear without a trace. To this day I do not let my son out of my sight when I am in a store. It was a hard lesson learned and it put fear within my heart but I can see my dad's point in teaching me that lesson. So, please keep an eye on your children when you are in a public place because I do not want you to be a victim of a kidnapping.