Magen has released the following warning. I will add that 3 weeks ago I published to the local email list a similar warning about this predator after two failed attempts to abduct young girls in RBS. He is still on the prowl, so please be alert.
---
Warning
It has come to our attention that there is a man driving around Ramat Bet Shemesh who has tried to abduct children, usually girls from the street.
He has seen to be driving an old white 1991 year Subaru type car (box like). He is darkish in complexion, has a beard (not short), and was wearing a velvet Kippa. The car seats had lines on them – in a crisscross pattern which creates a pattern of small ‘boxes’ or ‘squares’.
His modus operandi seems to be that he drives next to the child, stops and calls to them saying he has sweets/mamtakim, or that he is lost and needs directions on how to go out of the Rama. When the children
approached the car he tried to grab them and then attempted to molest them.
His last known attempts were on Nahal Arugot. This person may have been seen a few years ago doing similar activities – or at times sitting in a car doing activities not meant for the public domain.
Anyone who notices anything strange of this nature should take down a number plate and if possible take photos and certainly intervene if one sees a child being lured into such a car, in this manner. Please note any identifying information, such as location of incident, type of car, color of car, notable dents on the car, description of the person and what he is wearing, smells and any other details, even if they seem inconsequential at the time.
For victims, it’s essential that the police are informed so that they can investigate and arrest this person. Please contact the Police and Magen if you have any information or you need assistance in coping with this problem.
It's essential to know where our children are at all times and specifically they should be instructed NOT to speak to adults they don't know, and NEVER to get into the car with an adult they don't know, even if the adult offers them candy or says he's lost, and even if he looks frum. It is a good idea to role-play these situations with your children, telling them to quickly walk away if someone they don't know tries to talk to them, and scream loudly if anyone (including people they do know) tries to touch them.
-----------
Important Information: How to Contact "Magen":
By Phone:
New Magen "Hotline" Service: 052-765.2929
Sunday thru Thursday - 9am-12am; 8-11pm
Fridays - 9am-12am
Motsei Shabbat - till Midnight
Less-Urgent Matters: 02-9997026; 050 8789001
By email: magenprotects@gmail.com
Please note: The Magen hotline service is manned by volunteers trained and supervised by ELI, Israel's Child Protection Organization; it is still experimental by nature.
Magen operates under Halachik guidance; with the brachos and eitzos of Gedolei Yisrael; and under Israel's Child Protection Legislation.
It's a necessary precaution to instill strictness and not emulate Western values.
ReplyDeleteObviously a very concerning danger, but why on earth would anybody not go to the police first as opposed to 'victims' after the fact? What is this Magen institution and why do they presume to have authority to do anything (legal) about it? This seems to be a prime example of an ignorant, insulated, ghetto mentality...
ReplyDeleteDon't trust the authorities, we know better, we will deal with it within in the family and in our own ways.
Anonymous, you are correct that many frum communities have made the mistake of attempting to "handle these incidents in-house", sometimes even breaking the law in order to do so.
ReplyDeleteMagen, on the other hand, is a community-based child protection organization, which works closely with members of the community, local rabbonim AND with the police and social services.
Magen is not a replacement, but a supplement to the existing state and community services.
Social Services (revacha) is not a good government department - they generally fail to protect real victims whether at school or at home but investigate and stigmatize innocent parents reported by a "concerned" or (vindictive) neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI also think they like to find cases to stay busy (keep jobs) and keep their bloated budget intact.