What to do if your child is missing

Tips to help law enforcement with search

SAN ANTONIO – Every second counts when a child disappears. Would you know what to do?

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has created a checklist to guide parents through the situation. In the first 24 hours of the child's disappearance, here are some of their recommendations:

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  • Immediately report your child missing to local law enforcement. Ask them to put out a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) bulletin.
  • Don't remove anything from your child's room or from your home. Limit access to your home until law enforcement has collected possible evidence.
  • Tell law enforcement all the details about your child's disappearance including what you've done to look for him/her.
  • Write down every detail about your chlid's appearance. What was he/she wearing? Do they have any personal identification marks - birthmarks, scars, tattoos, mannerisms? Give law enforcement the most recent picture(s) of your child to help in the search.
  • Make a list of anyone who might have information about your child's whereabouts. Has someone moved in or out of your neighborhood in the last year? Is there someone who has been overly interested in your child? Law enforcement will want to know. If you have phone numbers and addresses, give those to law enforcement.