how can i protect my granddaughter from a child molestor who lives right up the street from me?

Question

i have a child molestor that lives right upthe street from us an inditment is pending but we are afraid hes going to get by with it and my grand daughters love to play outside i can not be out wth them every second of the day and its not fair to them to keep them inside the house what can i do to make sure theyre safe

Answer 1

Don't just focus on the guy up the street. The reality is that molesters live and work among us and are never identified. Just because you know about this one doesn't mean there aren't 5 more in your neighborhood.

Enroll her (and her friends!) in a course on personal safety. Many police departments have educational branches to help kids understand how to protect themselves. It is hard to teach common sense to a child because by nature they are too trusting, but the course offered by law enforcement can help them know what to do without totally freaking them out about it.

Answer 2

Make sure your granddaughters always stay in groups. Don't let them out when it's dark. Teach them about strangers. Teach them what to do if someone approaches them. Teach them that areas normally covered by a bathing suit are private, and what to do if someone tries to touch them there.

If you're really worried, don't let them outside alone. I know it's a pain, but that's the ultimate answer. If you can't be out there, get an older teen to stay with them, or another adult.

Overall, you want to protect them as much as you can without freaking them out. You also need to remember that the individual has rights, as well. I don't know what "indictment is pending" means, but if it's anything other than "has been found guilty in a court of law", you may be risking slander if you're not careful.

Answer 3

Make sure she always has a friend with her. Child predators are less likely to attack if there is a group, instead of just a single child. Also inform her. Tell her what is acceptable behavior from adults and what isn't. She needs to know that she doesn't have to respect ALL adults. Especially if they're touching her or treating her in a way she doesn't find appropriate. If she's old enough just point the man out and tell her to STAY AWAY.

It's so sad that we have to worry about sickos like that. I wish you the best!

Answer 4

Teach your granddaughters to protect themselves. We teach babies how to swim at less than a year old. We can teach young girls rudimentary self protection. I am sure the web has many good ideas/teachers.

Teach them the buddy-system. Both-all go together. Teach them to scream when scared. Teach them which houses are safe houses - neighbors that they can run to, if approached. Discuss this with your neighbors. Start a neighborhood watch (police department has info) if necessary. Teach them where to hit a man to cause the most pain. Eyes, ears and genitals.

Find a male friend who is a stranger who will be willing - with appropriate padding in the right places - to pretend to be a "bad man", and act in bad man ways - like giving candy then snatching them up and pretend to be carrying them away and/or hold them so they are helpless to get away. The training info may be able to tell you how much "pretend" is needed to reinforce the issue with which age.

Best wishes.

Answer 5

I would have a serious discussion with your granddaughter about going off alone with adults. Tell her to never go off alone with anyone in the neighborhood unless you say it is ok.

Also, make sure that she is never out in the front yard all alone- make sure that she has a friend, a parent, you, or a protective dog out there with her so that she can't be jerked into a car easily.

Also, try to encourage her to play in the backyard or a place where the child molester can't see her outside.

Answer 6

Definitely talk to her/them. And although it might not be fair to keep them inside, it is better than being sorry later. Someone else said not to just watch the guy up the street and that is SO TRUE but I understand that it feels different when you know exactly who this person is. We all need to be aware of the harm that other people can do to children. Do whatever it takes to keep kids safe.

Answer 7

Either keep them in front of the house so you can hear them and see them, or buy a set of those walkie talkies that go up to two miles so you can talk to them.
I speak from experience, because I was molested by a neighbor when I was 8yrs old.You can also set certain days and times that they can go out, that way you can be with them.

Answer 8

I'm with the first guy! Ah, vigilante justice. As opposed to NO justice, which equals a child molester being allowed to live in a normal neighborhood anyway. God, the system is so freaking stupid. It's insane and an outrage.

Answer 9

educate them! it's time to have "the talk". that way they will know to get away for the man if he trys to approch them when your not around, and you should tell them if anything like this ever happens they should tell you weather it be by this man of any one else...tell them it's not there fault. please tell them these things ... I was molested for almost 3 years by my uncle, he told me if I told they would take me from my mom and dad( they where going thur a divorce) so i didn't tell... then when i tryed to a few years later... they didn't listen... didn't believe there brother/ son would do that... I brought it up again a fe years ago now that I'm an adult, only to learn that it happened to me my sister and his daughter and still no one believes us!!!!!!
my child ( age3_ know that this guy is a bad person and he should not be around him! when he is near my son is cautious to stay in my view. i dn't believ eyou should scare them to death either but ...this is not a candy coated world, there are real dangers that they need to be aware of...best of luck

Answer 10

educate her. empower her to speak for herself even when adults are asking the questions. pedophiles are less likely to prey on a child who can communicate forcefully. make her aware that while most adults can be trusted, she must listen to herself and act when she feels odd or uncomfortable about any person. including teenagers. kids are often abused by older kids because children trust children. and like i do with my child, he cannot go into a home or yard or visit anyone i have not met. he has 4 rules. i need the parent's name, phone, and address and i have to meet them in person first.