According
to the Idaho Statesman, four Idaho residents who were riding their horses in
the area at the time encountered the girl and her abductor apparently camping.
The four then reported their encounter to police after returning home and
seeing news coverage of the Amber Alert.
This
is a classic case of police receiving information from the public that helps in
solving a crime and apprehending a criminal.
Deputies
often talk about going with your gut to sense that something was out of place.
In fact one of the horse riders said that he had a “… gut feeling…” about the
situation. Specifically, the newness of the camping equipment seemed to
indicate that the two were novices to camping. They said they were heading to
the Salmon River which was in a different direction than they indicated. The
teen’s sweat pants or pajama pants seemed out of place for wilderness camping.
And, the two seemed not to want to talk in an environment where most people are
usually very open and chatty.
What’s important here are not
the specifics, but that the horse riders took their experience of the
environment and their knowledge of camping to judge whether or not there was
something unusual about the campers. You can do the same in your neighborhood,
at work, or going about your day shopping. Be aware of your surroundings.
Having sense of what your neighbors drive can help tip you off to suspicious
vehicles in your neighborhood. Knowing when your neighbors are usually home can
alert you if you hear an unusual noise or see someone at their house. Rely on
your experience and observation to judge your surroundings as normal or out of
the ordinary.
And when you sense that
suspicious activity, take action by calling 911. Your report might not be the
key to solving the crime of the century, or give you nationwide publicity, but
it can help the Sheriff’s Office and a potential victim.
For more detail about the
Idaho incident go to:
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