UPDATED: School district and police respond to youth scare

CHAZY | After reports of a scared student surfaced and one local business offered to open its doors to any others in need, a local school district has joined forces with law enforcement to heighten safety measures in the coming days. In a widely circulated social media post that prompted quick public outcry May 27, Duprey's Feed and Supplies in Chazy mentioned having learned of a girl walking home from Chazy Central Rural School who was scared of an "older man in a white truck." Duprey's went on to say that any child is welcomed into their store if they feel threatened by anyone. The children would be safe there and could use a phone to call home if they want. Chazy Central Rural School District took immediate action after being notified of the incident and confirmed the student did not know the vehicle or driver, officials told concerned families following reports of the incident. Administrators worked quickly in collaboration with the Clinton County Sheriff's Department and New York State Police to launch an investigation and enact heightened security measures for students through next week. Increased and targeted law-enforcement presence will be seen in Chazy and across the school district area during dismissal in the coming days. Parents and families were notified of the action through social media and other means. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, known as NCMEC, found in an analysis of attempted abductions that many abductions involve a suspect driving a vehicle, occur between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., when the child was traveling to or away from school, and involved girls and children between the ages of 10 and 14. NCMEC recommends the best way to protect your children from potential abductions is to teach them to take action. They found that in their analysis 83 percent of children who escaped their would-be abductors did something proactive. It is recommended for parents to point out places kids can go for help when walking to places such as schools and parks, remind them to travel and stay with a group, warn them about accepting rides or changing plans without permission, teach them tactics would-be abductors use such as offering candy and encourage them to tell a trusted adult whenever anything or anyone makes them uncomfortable. While luckily in this case nothing more serious happened, Duprey's post serves as a good reminder to go over safety tips with your children. Duprey's owners said, "I hate the thought of a young kid feeling threatened and we're willing to do anything to help stop that." -Editor's Note: This article was updated at 6:30 p.m. to reflect the school district's response and launch of law enforcement's involvement.

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UPDATED: School district and police respond to youth scare

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