Vancouver mom sounding alarm, claims her son was almost abducted

A Vancouver mother is on a mission to raise awareness following a distressing incident involving her 11-year-old child, who was allegedly targeted in an attempted abduction last week.

Chanelle Macintyre tells CityNews her son and a friend were walking to David Oppenheimer Elementary in South Vancouver on Thursday morning when she says a stranger approached them.

“He was approached by a man in a white van, who told him to ‘hop in my van.'” Macintyre explained. “[My son’s] okay now, but he was very scared. He told me, ‘Mommy, I was so scared,’ and that his heart was pounding.”

Reacting quickly, the pair told the man “No!” and sprinted to class. The incident took place just a few blocks away from the school, according to Macintyre.

Upon learning of the incident, Macintyre says she experienced a wave of emotions.

“When I found out, I started shaking. I couldn’t believe this happened to my child. The ‘what ifs’ started racing through my mind,” she said.

Although her child escaped unharmed, Macintyre recognizes the sliding-door moment and the haunting thoughts of what might have been.

While acknowledging that this incident represents every parent’s worst fear, Macintyre is determined not to let fear dictate her parenting style or way of life. However, she does intend to take precautions by providing her child with a phone for immediate communication in case of emergencies. “I think in this day and age, kids need a phone,” she stated.

Macintyre emphasizes that her motive in sharing this story is not to instill fear but to ensure that parents are well-informed.

She encourages parents to consider measures such as using tracking devices on their children’s smartphones or having open conversations with their kids about what to do if they’re approached by a stranger.

The Vancouver Police Department says they are aware of the incident and have initiated an investigation.