Police Procedure for Kidnapping

Determined

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I'm looking for information describing the steps that the police take when a child is kidnapped. This 3 year old child is kidnapped from an outdoor market, with absolutely no witnesses and zero evidence.

I need to know:

1. What would the police do immediately when they arrive on the scene?
2. At what point would the parents be released from the scene to go home?
3. When does the Amber Alert go out and what information does that include?
4. How often would the police check in with the parents to keep them informed of their progress on the case?
5. Any other information about how they handle these cases.

Thank you so much!
 

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:
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There's a difference between a missing child and an abducted one. If the parents have NO IDEA what happened to the child, the police will assume he wandered off, but they will seal off the outdoor market, searching every vehicle before allowing it to leave. They will begin searching in widening circles based on the estimated distance the child could have traveled.
If there is any evidence that the child was abducted, a BOLO will be broadcast and a missing persons case will be initiated. The FBI will become involved when enough time has elapsed that the abductor could have taken the child across a State line, that is when it becomes a Federal Offense.

If the parents or witnesses have ANY evidence that the child was abducted, totally different story - The BOLO and Amber Alert are started right away.