Some offenders target the same victims again, he said. But Siouxlanders seem to find it tough to believe this kind of crime really happens, the officers said. Sometimes the childrens' parents are the ones who don't believe. Parents need to listen to their children carefully and then, if they believe something might be wrong, it should be investigated by authorities. Most of the crimes, however, don' t involve strangers.
National statistics indicate only one in seven crimes against a child is committed by a stranger.
They give someone the opportunity to let something happen. Common sense and reasonable caution are the answers to preventing many of the crimes. Police recommend that the backgrounds of potential baby sitters or daycare workers be checked before the child is left with them. Or, if someone seems to be loitering around a school when classes get out, it might be wise to notify police immediately. Parents need to pay more attention to their children, even if they are teen-agers, and the groups they're participating in.