According to the Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center, the majority of abduction cases are committed by family members. However, 28% of kidnappings are carried out by strangers. The FBI estimates that every 40 seconds, a child goes missing or is abducted in the United States, with approximately 840,000 children reported missing each year. The difference between kidnapping and abduction is that kidnapping refers to taking by force, threat, or deceit, with the intent to cause harm. Abduction involves persuasion, fraud, or force, and can be used in the context of family disputes. 

 

The most common reasons kids go missing include wandering off, being abducted by strangers or family members without a court order, running away, getting lost, and mental health issues. Nearly all children abducted by strangers are taken by men, with about two-thirds of stranger abductions involving female children. 

 

Here are ten practical ways to reduce the risk of child abduction.