Police are urging Quebecers to think about safety this Halloween, and download the provincial Amber Alert app on their phones.
The app was launched earlier this year in French, and an English version should be available in a few days.
There have been ten Amber Alerts in Quebec since the program started here in 2003. All ended happily.
The most recent was the kidnapping of day-old Victoria Boisclair, taken from a hospital in Trois Rivieres in May.
Victoria was found because of the rapid spread of the news of her disappearance.
“It was a tremendous result. The police officers were nothing without the help of the citizens,” said Montreal police spokesperson Ian Lafreniere. “When an event like that takes place, it's a matter of having minutes or seconds.”
With 5.5 million cellular telephones in the province, only 30,000 people have downloaded the app in the province so far.
"The people that download the app are going to be able to get all the information on the child, the suspect, and also the vehicle that was used for the abduction so that's why it's very important for us to be able to get to the most people and be able to transfer the information to us," said Martine Asselin of the Surete du Quebec.
Pina Arcamone, spokesperson for the Missing Children’s Network, said the app is extremely helpful.
“This is crucial. The more people we have looking for missing children, the better our chances that these children are found,” she said, adding that more eyes looking also sends a message to would-be abductors.
“We're watching. We have tools in place so please don't touch our children,” she said.
