What happens in AMBER Alert?

When a child has been abducted in the United States of America and the abduction meets AMBER Alert criteria, law enforcement notifies broadcasters and state transportation officials to issue an AMBER alert or a child abduction emergency alert to ask the public for help in finding abducted children.

All regular programming remains interrupted when AMBER Alerts are broadcast on radio, television, and DOT highway signs.

The issue of AMBER Alert came after three children were abducted from their Virginia Beach home on Wednesday night. Later, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Beach Police Department issued an AMBER ALERT around 2:00 am to find the three children.

The victims are three siblings– five-year-old Zayin Plummer, three-year-old Zayir Plummer and 16-month-old Za’riyah Plummer, according to VSP.

The VSP said 36-year-old Dana Demetrius Plummer allegedly abducted the trio from their home in the 900 block of Jay Are Court around 9:00 pm.

The three siblings may travel in a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV, said officials.

When did AMBER Alert start?

To help find abducted children, the AMBER Alert System started in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters worked with local police to develop an early warning system. Broadcast Emergency Response for America’s missing was created as a legacy to nine-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was brutally murdered after kidnapping while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas. As the idea was adopted nationwide, other states and communities soon set up their own AMBER plans.

How does AMBER Alert work?

When law enforcement has determined that a child has been abducted as per AMBER Alert criteria, they notify broadcasters and state transportation officials. Then, radio and television and DOT highway signs broadcast the AMBER Alerts interrupting regular programming.

AMBER Alerts also can be distributed through lottery, digital billboards, Internet Ad exchanges, Internet Service Providers, Internet search engines, and wireless devices.

How effective has AMBER Alert been?

As there are 82 AMBER Alert plans across the US, till December 31, 2023, the program has contributed to recovering 1,200 children and rescuing at least 180 children.