Fathers are usually employed while the mothers are more likely to be unemployed. Socio-economic factors vary from case to case. Few studies have identified a psychological or sociological profile of the abducting parent. The majority of children are between three and seven years of age. Both male and female children are equally likely to be abducted.
Children tend to be taken from the home.
They are less likely to be taken from another residence or from a school yard. Most searching parents report the abduction of the child to the police on the day it occurred. There is, however a large proportion of searching parents who delay in reporting the incident. Communication usually occurs between the searching parent and the abductor. The majority of parental abductions are short-term and resolved within seven days.