Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed Wednesday, May 25, as Missing Children’s Day, and encourages citizens to participate in the observance by taking the time to talk to a child about safety.
“The greatest gift you can give your child is advice that will keep them safe,” said Perdue. “A few simple steps could steer them clear of a tragedy.”
“Our children are our most precious resource,” said Reuben Young, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. “It is imperative that we take the time to discuss the dangers that may exist in today’s environment and more importantly, educate our children on how to avoid those dangers.”
Last year, the N.C. Center for Missing Persons recorded 10,620 missing children. More than 96 percent of those children returned safely to their families. CCPS’ State Highway Patrol oversees the center. The agency also issues AMBER and Silver alerts.
The majority of children reported missing each year are teen runaways who often return to their families on their own or are found by law enforcement. Some children are taken by non-custodial parent or relative.
An AMBER Alert is only issued when a child, age 17 or younger, is believed to have been abducted by a stranger or is in danger of injury or death. The alert allows citizens be on the lookout for the abductor or the child and notify law enforcement if they are seen.
In 2010, the Center for Missing Persons activated the AMBER Alert System eight times, with successful recoveries of each person involved.
Also last year, the Center for Missing Persons began including children in their Silver Alert Notification System which is used for people with dementia or a cognitive impairment. Last year, 216 Silver Alerts were issued, with successful recoveries of each person involved.
To report a missing child, contact local law enforcement. To contact the N.C. Center for Missing Persons, call 1-800-522-5437.
For more information about North Carolina’s AMBER Alert System, visit www.nccrimecontrol.org/amberalert. To learn more about the nationwide effort to help locate missing children, go to www.missingkids.org