This is why I wouldn't let my daughter play outside even though "all the other neighborhood kids were out there". They ALL, had siblings, and automatically did their best to watch out for each other. I knew her instincts were to wait for her friends if they went inside for a bit, and she'd be outside on her own, or she'd feel too comfortable going into neighbor's houses. I never wanted her to feel that comfortable, or be that alone.
The parents said she was playing with friends, for all we know she was headed home from safely playing and he took her. The buddy system doesn't always work with young kids, what horrible hindsight the parents must be dealing with.
I agree with someone else though, if my daughter had gotten locked in a strangers apt, I would probably have moved almost immediately - or I would have had some vigilante justice done.
