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Today is the 25th anniversary of National Missing Children’s Day, with officials here in Houston asking parents to talk to their kids about ways to avoid abduction. Houston Public Radio’s Jack Williams reports.
According to the Texas Center for the Missing, there were more than 11,000 children reported missing in Harris County last year. The vast majority of those children were eventually located, but Houston Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo says that shouldn’t stop parents from discussing abductions with their kids.
“I urge you, do not be afraid to talk to your children about the potential dangers that they could face. Offer them guidance so that they can recognize a dangerous situation and can know the right things to do.”
Mayor Bill White says it takes a short conversation to make kids aware of abduction dangers.
“I’m asking that all the parents in this community, on the 25th anniversary of this special day to do what the organizers call Take 25. Take 25 minutes to visit with a young person in your home and tell them about some of the dangers and how to avoid them.”
According to the Center For Missing and Exploited Children, there are nearly 800,000 children reported missing each year. Many are lost or runaways, but more than 50,000 are victims of non-family abductions each year.
