In response to two recent incidents involving children, the Lyon County Sheriff's Office is urging families to take preventive steps and review safety practices with their children.
In a recent Facebook post, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says deputies recently responded to an attempted child luring in Dayton and a kidnapping in Fernley, where children were lured to a home by the suspect.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of sharing information with the community to help prevent and avoid future abductions.
“News about a kidnapped child or teen can worry parents everywhere,” Sheriff Brad Pope stated. “But it's important to remember that most kids pass through childhood safely.”
The post outlined the reality of child abductions:
Most children reported missing have either run away or experienced a misunderstanding with their parents about their whereabouts.
In cases of actual abduction, most children are taken by a family member or someone they know.
Stranger abductions are rare and usually involve men, with around two-thirds of victims being female.
Most victims are teenagers.
School grounds are rarely the setting for abductions.
The Sheriff's Office said that approximately 2,100 missing children reports are filed daily in the U.S., and having accurate and updated information can assist in recovery efforts.
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office recommended the following:
Maintain current custody documents.
Take ID-style photos of children every six months and participate in local police fingerprinting programs.
Keep medical and dental records up to date.
Prioritize online safety by monitoring children's internet use, including chat rooms and social media, and teaching them not to share personal information or photos.
Set clear boundaries on where children can go and supervise them in public areas.
Never leave children unattended in cars or strollers.
Carefully vet babysitters, childcare providers, and nannies, and discuss pickup arrangements in advance with children and schools.
Avoid clothing with children’s names, as this can lead to misplaced trust in strangers.
The Sheriff's Office said that talking to children about strangers is important and encouraged parents to teach their children how to respond to potentially dangerous encounters without instilling fear.
Some of the key safety messages to teach them include:
Say "NO" to candy or gifts from strangers.
Never go anywhere with someone they don’t know, even if the situation sounds fun or urgent (remind your children that strangers should never ask them to do anything for them or offer assistance).
Run and scream if approached or forced toward a car.
Say no to inappropriate contact or requests and report any such encounters.
Refuse to do anything that someone asks you to do or to touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.
If someone asks personal questions, exposes themselves, or otherwise makes them feel uncomfortable, always let you or another responsible adult know. Assure children that it's acceptable to inform you, even if the other person intimidated them or made them swear not to.
Always ask for parental permission before leaving home or entering another person’s home.
Children should also know their full name, address, phone number including area code, and how to dial 911.
In case they get lost in a public space, they should seek help from a cashier or stay near the front of the store, away from exits, and not go into the parking lot to look for you.
Parents should point out safe homes nearby and establish rules about whose cars children can ride in.
Families are advised to create code words for pickup arrangements and ensure children never share the code word.
If children are home alone, they should keep doors locked and not reveal they are alone to callers or people at the door.
If a child is missing or abducted, the Sheriff's Office said that the first hours after a child goes missing are critical.
Contact local police immediately and provide a recent photo, a description of what the child was wearing, and details about where and when the child was last seen.
“After notifying the authorities, try to stay calm,” the Sheriff’s Office advises. “You'll be able to remember details about your child's disappearance more easily if you do.”
“If your child is missing or abducted, the first few hours are the most critical,” the post stated.
Law enforcement will request a recent photo, a description of the child’s clothing, and details about when and where the child was last seen.
“The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office takes missing people seriously and will work diligently to recover any missing person,” Pope said. “That was evident with the quick reaction and recovery of the three children taken in Fernley earlier in the week.” He urged all families to take time to review safety practices, noting, “Abductions can happen anywhere, in small towns and big cities alike.”
More information and child safety resources are available at KidsHealth.org.
(The Lyon County Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.)
