Reader-submitted: Dear TLS, I’m writing about an attempted abduction/assault that recently happened in Westgate.

We’ve heard these stories before, and often the upshot of it is how ‘we really need to be more vigilant’ etc… And we do certainly need to be vigilant. But that’s not why I’m writing this to you.

The main reason I’m writing is that I want people to realize how important it is to take action and do a police report after these types of incidents.

All too often when something like this happens, people settle in afterward and we thank Hashem, (as we certainly should!) realizing that it could have been so much worse… We then slip back into our lives and try to put it past us.

Making sure a report on incidents like this are in place is important for numerous reasons.

1) Perps like this will often return to the same area or repeat their attempts elsewhere. Having reports in place gives police something to work with in putting details together. Like if someone sees half a license plate and the next time someone else sees the other half, the police may be able to pick it up from there.

2) Sometimes a pattern of how the perpetrator selects targets or operates becomes apparent through multiple reports.

3) Police will focus on their high priority areas first. Having a list of records in an area shows them what is really going on and puts facts on the table regarding what is needed to properly service and area.

We could probably think of more reasons to add here, but the point is pretty clear. In order to best look out for ourselves we need to use the tools available as citizens. One of those tools is making sure a proper report was filed for any attempted criminal activity.

In this instance, the attempt was extremely determined. A girl was being followed by someone in a car. It was only 5:30pm, not at all a quiet hour. It occurred just off the busiest roadway in Westgate, not at all a quiet place. At one point, the attempting perpetrator got out of his car to approach her. Even after he saw that she had run to another person on the street (my son) to ask for help, he went around the corner and again made an attempt to approach the two of them!

I thank Hashem that this situation worked out without anyone getting hurt, and shudder at the thought of what could have happened. But the bottom line I ask for anyone reading is- please file a report if anything like this happens. You can call the police and they will send someone to you. There is no need to go down to the station.