UMPD Urges Parents and Guardians to Talk About Child Safety

Earlier this week, the Upper Moreland Police Department () reported an incident involving .

According to UMPD, young children were ordered by a Caucasian male to enter a white van with pvc piping on its roof. The children fled and informed adults of the incident.

According to UMPD chief , while the incident is being investigated, he encourages parents and guardians to talk with their children about their safety outside the home.

“Children should be told how to react when approached by strangers,” Nestel said in an e-mail. “Every child should know what to do in situations like this incident.”

In recent years, such incidents have become an increasing concern for communities across the country.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), nationwide (in a 2009 survey of nearly 56-million students), 36 percent of non-family attempted abductions happen when a child goes to or from school or school-related activity.

Helping to prevent such concerns, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in conjunction with the NCMEC released a document providing guidelines on how to help parents and guardians increase the safety of their children’s travels (see .pdf above).

In addition to 10 detailed tips, the document also provides five “Key Tips to Reinforce with Your Children”:

• Always take a friend with you when walking, biking, or standing at the bus stop. Make sure you know your bus number and which bus to ride.

• Say no if anyone you don’t know or a person who makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused offers a ride. Do not accept a ride from anyone unless I have told you it is ok to do so in each instance.

• Quickly get away and yell, “This person is not my mother/father/guardian” if anyone tries to take you somewhere or is following you. If anyone tries to grab you, make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.

• Never leave school grounds before the regular school day ends. Always check with the office and me before leaving school early.

• Never take shortcuts or walk through alleys to get to or from school. We will talk about which way to go to and from school. Remind me if activities you participate in cause you to leave earlier or arrive home later than usual. Remember to call me once you have arrived home.

“I would recommend that parents be aware of what is going on in their neighborhood," Nestel added. “And, when something suspicious is observed to contact 911 immediately!”

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To speak with an Upper Moreland Police officer, call 215-657-4700 or e-mail tnestel@uppermoreland.org.