Abbeville Police Chief urges parents to talk to kids about strangers in light of Youngsville incidents

Youngsville police responded Sunday afternoon to a call of an attempted child abduction.
It is the second such incident reported by Youngsville residents in less than a week.
Police said the vehicle in Sunday’s case is described as a silver or light-blue Toyota Tacoma. The suspect is described as an older white male, with gray hair. He may also have a beard, according to reports.
That comes after someone reportedly attempted to abduct a 6-year-old girl in the Copper Meadows neighborhood in Youngsville last Tuesday.
While the incidents have occurred in another community, Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy said Monday morning that he has officers on alert.
“You always worry about something like this spreading,” Hardy said. “When it is something like an abduction, you don’t take that lightly.
“Just because it hasn’t happened in Abbeville, doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen in Abbeville.”
Thankfully, nothing similar has happened recently in Abbeville or Vermilion Parish.
Hardy said that while law enforcement plays a big role, parents can have the greatest impact in preventing such cases.
“Always keep an eye on younger kids,” Hardy said.
For older kids, have a conversation, the chief said.
“Parents need to have talks with their kids about strangers,” Hardy said. “You would be surprised how many parents don’t. I always told my kids that if you don’t know them, run away.
“If someone tries to get you to get in a car, turn and run away.”
There is nothing wrong with a child creating a scene.
“Nothing at all,” Hardy said. “The kids can scream as loud as they can.
“The idea is to draw attention to yourself, so that everyone will turn around and look.”
The suspect in Sunday’s case allegedly told the 10-year-old girl that he is a friend of her father’s. Hardy said the girl certainly did the right thing in fleeing the scene.
“It doesn’t matter if they say they know your parents,” Hardy saidf. “If you don’t know them, run away or create a scene.”