A reported attempt to abduct a young boy on the Sunshine Coast this week was a stark reminder “you can’t trust just anyone”, and that teaching kids about stranger danger works.
Police have confirmed a reported attempted child abduction at Kawana Shoppingworld on Tuesday. Investigations are continuing.
A Queensland Police statement said initial investigations indicated that about noon on Tuesday a woman attempted to get a 10-year-old boy to enter her vehicle but was unsuccessful.
“A report was made to police a short time later, with patrols initially conducted of the area but were unable to locate any persons,” it said.
“Investigators from the Sunshine Coast Child Protection Investigation Unit are aware of the incident and are investigating.”
A QPS spokesperson said awareness surrounding stranger danger was just one part of keeping children safe.
“Parents and carers have the primary responsibility to provide their children with enough information to protect themselves – communicating with children is the key,” they said.
“There are a lot of community resources to assist parents with these conversations including ThinkUKnow.
“Having a network of responsible adults to get support from is important for children. Remember, child protection is everyone’s responsibility.”
News of the alleged attempted abduction reached the founder of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and advocate for child safety Denise Morcombe.
The foundation was established in honour of her son, to make Australia a safer place for children.
The foundation runs Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day, as well as Walk for Daniel, which started in 2005 to symbolise a trip home her 13-year-old son was not able to complete.
Mrs Morcombe recalled how the foundation had been to the young boy’s school a few years ago to educate students for Day for Daniel.
She said she had heard the young boy’s family was grateful to the foundation because he had recognised the unsafe situation, reacted and reported the incident, which are the three messages the foundation teaches.
“The school must reinforce the messages each year, because he remembered our messages,” she said.
READ MORE: Time for ‘brave conversations’ with kids
“That was really great.”
“The young boy recognised the danger, he knew what to do by reacting and going away into the shops to find some help. Then I think he found a neighbour who got onto a security guard.
“We were really happy to hear the young boy was able to realise he was in danger and got help.”
For the past 18 years Bruce and Denise Morcombe have been advocating for child safety, and Mrs Morcombe said it felt fulfilling to see it pay off.
“It was good to know that the work we have been doing has helped a child get away from an unsafe situation,” she said.
“That is what the foundation is all about.”
She said this was an example of the stranger danger concept working.
“Most of the times we (the Daniel Morcombe Foundation) don’t talk about stranger danger, because a lot of times with sexual abuse and things like that, it’s people they know,” she said.
“In this case it is about stranger danger, and it’s an important concept.
“It can be anyone. You usually hear about men but it’s not always going to be a man.
“You can’t trust just anyone.
“It could even be someone with a child. You just don’t know.”
She said on the flipside parents do still need to try to let kids be kids.
“Sometimes you see parents not wanting to let their kids riding bikes or going on their skateboard,” she said.
“But you have to be able to teach them about their body clues and what their safety messages are and if they think something is wrong, to get away.”
READ MORE: Walk for Daniel headlines key day for child safety
She offered some safety tips for children.
“It’s important to let the children know, that where possible, to always travel with a friend and try not to be by yourself,” she said.
“Teach them to tell someone where you are going and what time they will be home.
“They need to always be observant and recognise their body clues and why they feel unsafe and importantly report suspicious behavior, and that’s what the young fella did.”
She said another key safety tip was having a family password.
“Just say in this example the person in the car could have said ‘I know your mum, she’s sick and I have to take you back home’ but with a family password that only your family or people that pick you up from school or sports classes know … then even if it is someone they know, if they don’t know that family password, they know not to get in the car.
“Lastly, if someone in a car asks you something, keep a few metres away from the car and don’t get into the car.”
If an incident is unfolding where a child or any person is at risk or in danger, call triple-0 immediately.
Anyone with information that may assist in investigations regarding incidents of risk to children is urged to contact police. Reports can be made to Policelink on 13 14 44 or online, to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online, or to your local police station.
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