arndt@3434.DEC (08/17/85)
The night before last TWO little girls (ages 3 & 2 1/2) were stolen from their beds during the night from different homes in my area!!!! Both were found alive! In one case a babysitter left the little girl in her crib and checked on her a few minutes later and she was gone. She was found a mile from her house 19 hours later seemingly unharmed but having been outside all night (she was taken around 9pm) and day in the heat, etc. The other little girl was taken by someone who broke into her bedroom through the window but was evidently scared off outside by a barking dog and the parents were finally awakened by her crying and banging on the front door of the house. This happened around 1am. Last night I left the outside lights on and slept on the floor next to our family bed (because of the heat we spread out more) with a loaded Lugar at hand (no round in the chamber). I know of parents who have their children sleep in another part of the house with the bedroom door closed - even in cases where the room is on the ground floor, as if this makes any difference. My point is that sleeping with your kids not only builds family closeness but allows you to 'keep an eye' on them even when they sleep. I realize one has to balance paranoia with reality. But one look at that mother's face pleading with someone to return her child and sleeping with one's children suddenly takes on a new dimension. Well, just a thought. Regards, Ken Arndt