Radnor Police Chief Says Parents Need To Warn Kids Away From 'Talk To Strangers' Web Sites
By Kim Glovas
RADNOR, Pa. (CBS) -- Radnor Township police are alerting the public about what they are calling a potentially dangerous web site.
Called Omegle, it encourages strangers to text or video chat with each other.
Radnor Township police superintendent Bill Colarulo says that about a month ago his office was alerted to a case in which a 12-year-old boy went to the Omegle web site.
"This 12-year-old engaged in a conversation with someone who turned out to be a male in his 20s, and the conversation immediately turned sexual, and the 12-year-old sent nude pictures to this individual," Colarulo says.
He says an open investigation is underway with the Delaware County prosecutor's office.
And while parents have always told children not to talk to strangers, Colarulo notes, this web site encourages it. He adds, "Ninety percent of the time, as soon as these individuals clicked on the site, they were already exposing themselves, before they even knew who was going to connect on the other end. Parents have to be responsible, and they have to keep an eye on where their children are going on the Internet."
He says telltale signs that a child may be going somewhere they shouldn't include minimizing the screen or shutting the computer off if a parent enters the room.
Colarulo says parents have got to understand the technology to protect their children.
