Police search for missing 15-year-old girl

By Lindsay Ruebens
lruebens@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

Police are looking for a 15-year-old girl who has been missing since last Thursday.

Tyra Porter was last seen leaving 1602 Dendy Lane in Charlotte around 1:30 p.m.

Police say she is 5-foot-2 and 95 pounds. Her family is concerned about her safety because of health issues.

Anyone with information can reach Detective A.L. Hart at 704-336-4196. Police ask anyone who has seen Porter or knows of her whereabouts to call 911.

Over 2000 U.S. kids get lost every day.¹

Less than 10% are reported to any authority.²

Approximately 100 U.S. kids are stereotypically kidnapped by strangers each year.¹

90% of families will experience losing a child in a public place.

• 20% have lost a child more than once.²

7 out of 10 kids get lost at least once in their lives.²

95% will forever remember the trauma of getting lost.²

Parents rank losing a child 5 times more concerning to them than terrorism and 3 times more concerning than abduction.²

Kids get lost most often in malls and stores (45%)²

27% of families that visit an amusement park lose a child while they are there.³

Only 9% of parents put some form of safe ID on their children.²

76% of parents want to know what to do to prevent a child from getting lost.²

Sources:
1: Source = NISMART2: National Incident Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children. U.S. Department of Justice. October 2002.
2: Source = Wander Wear Inc. parent survey, September 2006.
3: Source = IntiMetrix study, 2002.

For the 76% of parents who want to know what to do to prevent their child from getting lost I say look no further than the sentryGPSid personal location device!  It’s the smallest, most intelligent, and most cost effective GPS tracking device and web portal combination on the market today.  With the sentryGPSid you can know before your loved one wanders!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/758672.html

Toddler found in Pineville roadway at 4:30 a.m.

By Steve Lyttle
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Tuesday, Jun. 02, 2009

Police say a toddler found wandering in the middle of a busy Pineville roadway early this morning has been reunited with her parents.

The girl, thought to be 2 or 3 years old, was spotted about 4:30 a.m. in the middle of Johnston Road in Pineville.

The girl was found in the 10200 block of Johnston Road, a short distance north of McMullen Creek Parkway. That is north of Pineville-Matthews Road.

Police say the motorist who found the girl took her to a nearby gas station and called police. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police joined with Pineville police to try and determine where the girl lives.

Authorities began calling phone numbers at residences within a half-mile radius of the Johnston Road area. Shortly before 11 a.m., CMPD Officer Robert Fey said police were able to find the girl’s parents.

The girl was not injured, police say.

• Be proactive by assuming that your child could be a victim.
• Talk to your child about how they can keep themselves safe.  This is the only way they will know what to do when confronted by an unwanted situation.
• Teach you child how to dial “911” or “0” on the telephone and call for help.
• Teach your child their full name, address and telephone number as early as possible.
• Let you child know that the people that could help them if they were lost or separated from you are policemen, mothers with children, cashiers, the mailman or store clerks.  Teach your child how to recognize each of these at places you frequently take your children.
• When you go to public places, especially amusement parks, wear the same colors as your children.  This will make it much simpler to inform police or security guards of your children’s attire in the event of an emergency. Pay particular attention to your child’s shoes in these situations. Many times a kidnapper can change their shirt or pants, but their shoes are harder to switch.
• If you have a cell phone with a camera, take a picture of your children before every trip into a public place.  This gives you the most current picture possible, and helps to remind you of what your children are wearing that day.
• Do NOT put your child’s name on the outside of their clothing or school supplies or backpacks, this is an easy way for a stranger to know your child’s name and approach them like a friend of the family.
• Teach you child that adults do not ask children for directions or help finding an animal.  They should say “NO” and run and tell an adult they trust.
• Teach your child that a stranger is anyone they do not know.
• Teach you child that their body belongs to them and that no one should touch them where their bathing suite covers and that it is OK for parents to touch only when they are bathing them or applying medicine.
• Teach you child that it’s OK to say “NO” to an adult they do not know.
• Establish a family “code word” and teach them they should never go with anyone that doesn’t know the family “code word”.
• Maintain a strict procedure for who picks up your child from day care or school.  Be consistent.
• Teach you child that if an adult or older child makes them feel uncomfortable they should say “NO” or yell “HELP” not just scream and try to get away.
• Listen to your children.  Encourage them not to keep secrets from you.
• Promote your child’s self-esteem and let tem know that you love them for who they are, and they can talk to you about anything.
• Keep all your doors and windows locked and have your home well lighted.
• Teach your child to enjoy wearing the sentryGPSid™ child GPS location device.
• Keep your child’s sentryGPSid™ GPS device charged and make certain to put it in their pocket or on their belt when they leave the house.
• Keep your SentryKIDS® Bio-Doc™ in a convenient location in your home.  Do not put your child’s Bio-Doc™ in a safety deposit box where you do not have 24-hr. access.  Store it in a fireproof safe if you have one.  If you do not have a fireproof safe, put your child’s Bio-Doc™ in a zip lock bag and store it in the freezer.  Your freezer will protect your valuable documents since it is heavily insulated.