3 missing youth found safe at a home in Ndilo, say RCMP
Three youth missing in Yellowknife this past weekend were all found safe by RCMP, leading police to release a number of safety tips for parents.
According to a news release, a missing 10-year-old boy was reported missing on Saturday evening after he was last seen on Friday night near Walmart.
While investigating the youth's disappearance, police identified a second boy — 12 years old — who also had not been home since Friday. Late Sunday night, a 12-year-old girl was also reported missing.
RCMP believed the three missing children knew each other, the release states.
"Evidence confirmed one of the youth in attendance at a local fast food outlet" on Saturday evening. Police expanded their investigation, including members from the Major Crimes Unit.
On Monday morning, they received information leading to a residence in Ndilo. There, RCMP found all three missing youth safe, and took them to the RCMP station to be released to their families.
According to a family member of one of the youth, the residence was that of a family member of one of the children.
In their release, RCMP included a number of safety tips for parents and guardians, reminding them that "while this incident has a happy ending, it serves as a reminder that in the cold temperatures of a Yellowknife winter, a missing person can become a tragic event if not located quickly."
The tips include:
Teaching children their full name, address, and phone number, and how and when to call the police.
Setting a regular check-in schedule for your children.
Making sure your children wear a bike helmet and safety equipment when riding a bike, wear weather-appropriate clothes, and teaching them bike safety.
Teaching children to always play with a buddy and inform a parent or trusted adult of their whereabouts, to stay away from heavily forested areas and abandoned buildings, and to avoid shortcuts and stick to pre-planned routes.
