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After two attempted abductions in Midway, the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office has a message for parents: Halloween is a holiday that needs to be fun for kids, just enjoyed with a good dose of caution.
Lt. Jeff Winterton, with the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office, said, "We received a report from a 9-year-old victim that individuals in a white truck with red lettering had attempted to lure her to the vehicle." That happened on Sept. 26.
Then yesterday, Winterton said he received a call from the parents of a 12-year-old girl. They were calling to report that while their daughter was playing in the front yard, a white truck with red lettering or writing, cursive writing, pulled up and asked her if wanted some candy, candy she could only get by getting inside the truck.
In both cases, the girls knew exactly what to do. They ran away and told their parents.
Both attempts happened within three to four blocks of each other, near Midway Elementary School, where today teachers have been talking to students about stranger danger.
Midway Elementary School Principal Shawn Kelly said, "Without giving them a huge amount of detail, talking to them about what happens when people approach you, what do you do if somebody asks you for candy, or if you want candy. Kids come here, general ideas of stranger danger."
Parents we talked to at school today are also talking about it with their children. Jennifer Stone said, "It's scary. I was just thinking we need to sit down and go over all the rules and safety procedures."
"My kids and I had this discussion this morning because I knew of last night's," said Angie Prince. "So we sat down this morning and discussed it all again."
And as for trick-or-treating tomorrow night, Stone said she would keep her children close. "I guess we'll have to go knock on doors with them," she said.
Prince said, "I'm not sending them trick-or-treating."
Wasatch County sheriff's deputies are patrolling the neighborhood today. They'll also be out tomorrow night.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
