There have been stories circling of attempted kidnappings in the local areas surrounding the town of North Arlington. It has been brought to attention of the Viking Saga that children and teens may not know the dangers they are surrounded with every single day.

Strangers are everywhere- some may be good and others may be dangerous. This is why choosing a friend is also very difficult. A malicious stranger can look like anybody; he/she can wear the same clothes, have popular accessories and seem just as normal as anyone else. Never be afraid to ask for company if you are on your own and you are worried or scared.

In situations like walking home, it is always better to walk home with a group rather than alone. Do not give strangers any personal information like your phone number, address or any information of that sort. Sadly, the internet may do more damage than good in this area. Pages on social networking sites should be private and it is suggested that individuals only accept people they know and trust.

It is recommended to not put pictures online that you wouldn’t want your teachers, parents or adults to see. Once you put something on the internet it is never truly gone, even after deletion. People can save these images and use them for terrible things like blackmail. Another way to keep safe is to have a safe plan especially when you’re out at night with your friends without supervision.

Some tips outlined on http://moms.today.com are:

• Learn how to stand and walk with awareness and confidence
• How to move out of reach from someone approaching yourself
• How to walk away from a stranger without waiting even if that person is being nice
• How to check for permission first even when someone says not too
• How to get help from a busy or insensitive adult if you are lost or scared
• How to make noise, run and get to safety in case of an emergency
• What to say and do if a stranger approached them at home

Following tips like those listed above will help limit your chances of getting into a problem regardless of the matter. Make sure to keep them in mind whenever you are out or while home alone.