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Think back to when you were a kid. Let's say you were playing with friends and it was dinner time, or you were in a store and wanted something. Your parent came over to take you home for dinner, or said "no you can't have" what you wanted them to buy for you. You started throwing a tantrum, your parent grabbed you by the arm and dragged you home or out to the car, while you were crying all the way.
That's probably the perception most adults have when they see a kid they don't know being dragged by the arm by an adult.
I went over this subject with both of my kids when they were young. Instead of crying, or yelling something like "NO" or "LET ME GO", they were taught to yell "STRANGER" if someone tried to grab them.
Ted Bundy abducted his last victim, 12 year old Kim Leach, while he was wearing a badge or uniform of some sort---actually went to her school and took her out of the schoolyard. You can't even tell kids today to trust someone wearing a policeman's uniform. I told mine to never open the door to anyone, even if the person ringing or knocking said they were the police. They were told to tell them that "mommy's in the shower". A real cop would say, "OK, we'll come back later".
Most abductors are men between the ages of 25 and 40. I also taught my kids that if we were ever in a mall, or a theme park, or any large public area, and we somehow got separated, to look for a grown-up who looks like Grandma and let her get help for you.
Bloo, those creeps are extremely resourceful and it's not always the parents' fault. You drill the lessons into your kids' heads. Kids, espcially as they near their teens, refuse to live in a bubble. An 11 year old is going to want to be able to ride her bike in the neighborhood, visit friends on the next street, roller blade, play in the back yard and the parents---even good parents---can't keep her under 24/7 watch. Sprouting your wings and fledging from the nest is a natural part of growing up.
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