In a remarkable act of intuition, a teacher’s aide intervened to prevent a potential kidnapping last week, saving an 11-year-old girl from a perilous situation. On her commute to work, Lisa Bennett recognized a former student seated in a car alongside a middle-aged man, immediately sensing that something was amiss. The girl appeared visibly frightened.
“I approached her and asked, ‘Is that your father?’ She replied, ‘No, he’s just a friend.’ That raised alarm bells for me,” Bennett recounted. “I positioned my car to block theirs and insisted, ‘You need to get out of that vehicle right now!’”
Bennett promptly contacted law enforcement, leading to the arrest of 51-year-old David Thompson on charges of attempted kidnapping. Investigators discovered that Thompson had lured the girl into his car while she was on her way to Maplewood Elementary School around 7 A.M. He had forcibly grabbed her wrist and compelled her to enter the vehicle. This unsettling incident occurred in broad daylight.
The principal of Maplewood Elementary, Sarah Mitchell, praised Bennett’s swift actions, calling her a “guardian angel” for averting what could have been a tragic event.
Safety Tips for Parents
Parents can take proactive measures to safeguard their children against such threats. Encouraging kids to walk with a buddy can enhance their safety. Establishing a “code word” is another effective strategy; children should know to ask for it if approached by someone unfamiliar. This code word can be any term agreed upon between parent and child, reinforcing the importance of verification when approached by a stranger. Role-playing various scenarios can help children understand that they should never accept rides from unknown individuals. The National Crime Prevention Council advises children to follow the “No, Go, Yell, Tell” approach: they should say no, run away, yell loudly for help, and immediately inform a trusted adult of the incident.
Bennett described her instinctive response as akin to having “superhuman powers.” “I still can’t believe I acted so quickly!” she expressed.
Additional Resources
For additional insights on family safety and well-being, you can check out our related post on fertility boosters for men at Make A Mom or explore our at-home insemination kit guide at Make A Mom, both of which provide valuable information for those planning for a family. For an excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination, visit Healthline.
In summary, the quick thinking of a dedicated teacher’s aide played a pivotal role in saving a child from a dangerous situation. Parents should remain vigilant and prepare their children with safety strategies to ensure they know how to respond in emergencies.
Keyphrase: Teacher’s aide foils kidnapping
Tags: home insemination kit, home insemination syringe, self insemination