I'll have to ask my father if he knew anything in particular or if it was just his level of concern...but we were the weird people in our neighborhood growing up, we locked our doors and were taught the buddy system...if nobody home, doors locked, and at night when everybody was in (or most everybody
) we locked our doors...most of my friends I could just walk into their houses anytime anybody was home. This was the mid-60's to 70's though, there was still some innocence then...about the most nefarious thing I recall is a scare one Halloween in mid-70's...rumors about somebody putting razor blades in caramel candy apples...don't know if that was urban legend or parental reverse psychology...as kids we wouldn't want crap like that at Halloween anyway, we wanted candy...anything else was likely tossed aside or used in a prank or chucked into that houses mail box...
And I don't think bad things never happened in previous generations, its just that they were not talked about...that and as populations grew and (cough) diversified instances started getting more attention in the if-it-bleeds-it-leads press. The Wetterling case and those like it put a scare into parents, and I don't see that as a bad thing...however helicopter parents are another thing (they gave us the Millennial's...). My brothers kids were about 4-6 when Jacob was taken...they were (are) good kids and followed the guidance given them.
I'm sure it is awful for the Wetterlings...27 years, and the worst confirmed. Wouldn't wish that on any parent.
And now there is
likely democrat targeting kids.
Just like in the Wetterling case and every one like it...if I ever saw anything odd going down...don't just drive by and make a call...do something!