In a harrowing incident, an 11-year-old girl successfully thwarted an attempted kidnapping by asking a man for a “secret code” that her parents had established beforehand. This alarming situation serves as a crucial reminder for all parents about the importance of preparing children for potential dangers.
The girl’s mother, Lisa Thompson, shared with local news outlet Fox 10, “We created a secret code, and on this occasion, it truly saved her life.” On a Wednesday afternoon, Lisa received a distressing phone call from her daughter, who was understandably shaken. “She told me a man was trying to take her,” Thompson recounted. The young girl was at a park in Arizona when a man in a white SUV approached her with a fabricated story about a family emergency, attempting to lure her into his vehicle.
According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. while the girl was walking with a friend. The man claimed that her siblings were involved in a serious accident and insisted she needed to come with him. However, when the girl asked for the secret code, the man could not provide it and ended up driving away.
Sheriff Mark Lamb praised the parents for their proactive approach in teaching their child about stranger danger. “Kudos to this child’s family for having open conversations about safety and establishing a code word,” he stated. “We hope this incident encourages other parents to create similar plans with their children.”
It was later revealed that several other kids had witnessed the white SUV driving around the park multiple times. The suspect was described as a white male, likely in his 40s, with a short beard and was seen covering his face to hide his identity while trying to convince the girl to enter his car. Although child abductions by strangers are rare—accounting for less than 1% of kidnappings—Lisa expressed gratitude for having discussed safety protocols with her daughter. “I never thought we would need to use it, but I’m incredibly proud of her for recalling and applying it,” Thompson said.
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In summary, this frightening event underscores the necessity of equipping children with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves in dangerous situations. A simple code word can make all the difference, potentially saving a life.