INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis mother believes that talking with her daughter about “stranger danger" is what kept her safe when a man tried to lure her into his car Monday afternoon.
Erin Hall said her 10-year-old told her a man she did not know pulled up in a white car and offered her a ride near the bus stop at Manning Road and Clearview Drive just before 4 p.m.
“This day and age imagining someone had the best intentions would be nearly impossible,” said Hall. “You have this little window of a day between getting off the bus and getting home, and it’s 5 minutes, and it’s unsafe.”
Hall said she had hoped it would never be an issue, but she believes her daughter was prepared because the two had talked about what to do in that type of situation.
“First thing we told her to move away from the vehicle and say ‘no,’” said Hall. “Be clear and loud and get away from the vehicle.”
Hall said her daughter followed the steps they had discussed and ran the opposite way from the vehicle. She believes having that talk possibly saved her daughter’s life.
Hall is sharing their story to remind other parents how important it is to have that conversation with their kids.
“We’re dealing with the heartache of what do we do moving forward to make her situation safer, but you can’t rid the world of danger, so you have to prepare for what’s out there,” said Hall.
Hall said her daughter didn’t tell her about the incident until Monday evening and she filed a report with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department first thing Tuesday morning.
Police say the incident remains under investigation, but they offer the following safety tips to all parents who have children who ride the bus.
- Try to meet kids at the bus stop
- If a parent is not available, have a trusting adult to meet kids at the bus stop
- Ensure kids walk in groups if they have to walk home without an adult
- If you see something or someone suspicious, call police
Hall said her daughter attends Pike Township Schools.
The school system released the following statement about Monday's incident:
The safety and security of our students is of the utmost importance. Our Pike police are aware of the reported incident and are working directly with IMPD.
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