To Catch a Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home

by Chris Hansen

An urgently needed primer on how to protect kids from the increasing threat of online predators   Over 40 million Americans have seen  Dateline ’s ongoing popular series  To Catch a Predator , which has caught over two hundred potential child predators. While the show exposed this epidemic, Chris Hansen’s book,  To Catch a Predator , shares the true stories of families who have been targeted by predators, revealing the tactics predators use to manipulate their victims and why even cautious families can be vulnerable to their attacks. He also offers suggestions from police officers, therapists, and child predators on the best approaches for preventing these crimes. Most critically, he provides parents with concrete steps they can take to protect their kids today, including how to initiate meaningful conversations with their children.  To Catch a Predator  teaches parents and children what they need to know before the next predator strikes.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Crime

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book if you have children and a computer.

More than just a rundown of the TO CATCH A PREDATOR Dateline NBC series (although it does do that), this book also contains heartbreaking stories of children who have been exploited -- and in some cases murdered -- by predators they met on the Internet.

Chris Hansen does a great job of illustrating the fact that the computer and the Internet, as a whole, are useful tools that even younger children can take advantage of. But his tips and hints for protecting your children from online predators are something that EVERY parent needs to read -- and then share with their kids.

While I tried to avoid scaring my two children (ages 10 and 6), I have sat them down and discussed the dangers that can be found on the Internet. Just as predators in real life don't always look like what they are, I think my kids now understand that people they could meet online aren't necessarily who they claim to be, either.

I highly recommend all parents, especially those of teens and pre-teens, who have a computer pick up a copy of TO CATCH A PREDATOR. You'll be amazed, frightened, and instilled with a sense of urgency when it comes to the protection of your kids.

[SueCanaan]

No review because the subject matter is.......icky. Important info for parents.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, my husband was watching clips from the Dateline show "To Catch a Predator." This aired in 2006, showing sting operations targeting online sexual predators. Each man thought he was coming to a home where he would meet a teenage boy or girl he had been chatting with online. It was actually decoy detectives who posed as teens. Once the conversation turned explicit and graphic, the predator would arrange the meeting time and place with the "teen" for sex. After the predator walked through the door, Chris Hansen, the Dateline investigator, would step into the room and confront the man, followed by an arrest.

When I saw these men's faces, it really startled me. They were just regular looking guys. All ages, shapes and sizes. I was disturbed. How could I ever feel calm about the people around me in public again? Then I found the book on audio at my library. I really wanted to know more about the justice being done to bring down these predators, but I couldn't look at those guys faces anymore, so the book was a good alternative. It's well written, concise and very informative. My baby is still in the womb and I already feel more armed with confidence and information that will help protect him or her from the many dangers on the internet.

[Tbone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome, could'nt put it down....really wakes you up to how many pervs/predators are out there and its alot...

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read if you have kids. Very good book.

[Manda b. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great material just poorly executed.

[David Szatkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written by the reporter who did "To Catch a Predator" for Dateline NBC. The book is part behind the scenes and part how to deal with the very real question of online danger to kids. The book was written in about 2007, so of course many of the cases are now concluded. Much of the technology and social media has evolved with time, the same is true of cyber security generally. For example, Yahoo has since canceled user created chatrooms and myspace is not as popular as FB. However, the fundamental lessons learned are timely as much now as then. I do recommend this book for all parents and anyone concerned about online security for kids.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

The advice is somewhat victim blaming, which I seriously disliked. Other than that, I wish it would have focused less on the predators that show up at the house and tell more fully fleshed out stories. There were interesting stories and interesting people, but not nearly enough. I wish he would have spoke more about the criticisms and addressed Perverted Justice's problems, but obviously he turns a blind eye to it.

The book is better and less focused on public embarrassment than the tv show. I was surprised at Chris Hansen's writing and insight. If the tv show was more like the book, it probably wouldn't be as popular, but it might actually help catch sexual predators.

[Douglas Castagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a companion book to the Dateline series. I do not agree with some of the reviews that the book is victim blaming. It is totally the opposite. It is begging that parents get involved with their children, involved with their lives so maybe they do not rely on living in an online world and fall prey to these people. Not having children, I wonder if the treat is still as big and as prevalent as it was in the early part of the last decade of if it has gotten any better. The book doesn't shed any light on that, nor does the afterward. There is no real followup to any of the people caught in these stings. The book was ok but it could have been something worlds better.

[Russty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, entertaining book version of the TV show "To Catch a Predator". Would have liked to have seen more of the scenes portrayed from the show... Interesting background information on people and groups fighting to help inform the public, and teens in particular, how these types of folks operate and the positions they could find themselves into if they were to fall prey to these predators!!!

[Win Bigly II: · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting chapters on the investigations are totally bogged down by chapters about random victims and detectives that are seemingly picked at random.

These chapters were boring as hell and made the book feel more like a textbook.

I understand the point of the book was, largely, to provide supplemental material to the show, but it completely rendered the book a bore. A rare book I had to literally force myself to finish.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like the popular Dateline series, sheds a light on the mostly dark world of sexual predators on the internet. Don't expect a rehash of the titillating television drama here--instead, Hansen intersperses stories from the show with advice and true stories of victims and their families. Not great, but good.

[Jannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrifying. The author definitely chose the most dramatic experiences, but the fact that there were SO MANY dramatic experiences shocked to me. A good insight into the mind of a pedophile. Definitely broke my heart, but worth the read so I know who my opponents really are when it comes to my kids' safety online.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book really goes to heart of the issue about sexual predators. I liked the opinions and thoughts shared about treatment for sexual predators and I hope that this book will serve as a way of better educating society on sexual predators.

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. One may think it's a bit outdated when looking at the release date, but just exchange MySpace with Facebook and other social media platforms and the book is as relevant now as it were then

A book all parents should read

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that should be read by parents and teenagers about how to avoid the scum who prey on trusting people over the Internet.

[Bela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh. gripping tome to accompany the Dateline show that I cannot keep from watching.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously not an enjoyable read, but I learned more about how scary this subject can be.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every parent should read this book!!!

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an eye opener!!!!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are NEVER too careful when it comes to how you monitor your kids on the internet. Always follow your gut and share your concernes with them. All parents should read this.

[Jenny U · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, hard to put down, but Chris Hansen just uses shocking stories to engage his readers, not tell a story...or to even really have a point.

[Jeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

All parents and anyone else interested in how to avoid online predators should read this!

[Anj]

I could've watched it on Youtube. What the heck, you can't un-buy from booksale.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much what I expected. Makes me want to protect my little ones as much as I can for as long as I can.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is far better than the TV show. Less creepy but far scarier.

[Tabitha Finlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covered more than just the instances Chris Hansen caught in his TV show. An important read, I think, especially for anyone with children.

[Chris Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a book every middle aged suburban American mother should buy (not borrow) and read. Protect your children now! (only $19.50)

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A television network comes up with the idea of creating a camera house to lure guys that want to have a physical relationship with children. They then interview the guys, high ratings, then, questions of legality. They work with the police and arrest the goons. Surreal, when this was on television I was transfixed. Adult content.

Intercut with terrible stories of families broken apart. Where are they all now?

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories and the insider info but didn't learn much that I haven't from more current podcasts and YouTube videos. The writing was kinda disjointed and seemed somewhat unorganized. It was, however, a bit amusing to read this in 2022 LOL. 2007 us was still so new to the Internet. Ha!