KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Benton: An Increase in Runaways

(KATV) After a high profile runaway case this month that tragically ended in a murder, police and parents want to stop the troubling runaway trend.

Many teens runaway to escape abuse or to cool off after an argument at home, but the Benton Police Department has had an increase in the cases.

Benton police used to post runaway information just on their website while investigating, but for a year now, they have spread the word through media, social media and local organization, the goal is to find the runaway, quickly and safe.

These are just a few of the faces of Benton teens, from 13 to 17 years old who mad the rash decision to runaway. Benton police haven't attributed it to any one reason, but fortunately, with the help of police they've been returning home safe within hours or days.

Kevin Russell says, "Here in the last month or so it does seem like we've actually had an increase in it."

When they runaway, it's not just frightening for their loved ones, police know all too well all the possible scenarios. Blind sided by problems, runaways who don't think things through don't realize that their life could be worse by taking off.

Lt. Russell adds, "Just like the case in Fort Smith, there are people out there who are trying to contact children, teenagers to lure them away from their family. That is a big concern for us and it's something we take very seriously."

He adds, "That's why we encourage parents to monitor what their children are doing and who they're hanging around and just try to be a part of their life so they know if something is going amiss."

Lt. Russell says in endangered runaway cases, officers have taken over the teen's social media pages to try to trace people they've communicated with.

He says a warning sign to look for is if teens are more secretive than usual especially about whom they're talking to by phone or computer.

By Wednesday afternoon, all the recent runaways this year had returned home safe.