Why did it feel like kids were always in danger of being kidnapped?!?

Maybe it's because of the Adam Walsh case back then. I remember my neighborhood having these signs they put in their front windows to let kids know it was a "safe" house to run to if someone was following you (in an unmarked white van, of course). Seeing the missing kids on milk cartons was creepy. I also remember parents telling us not to go into certain parts of the woods by ourselves, because there were "kidnappers" living out there in weird makeshift tents. Did anyone else have stuff like this in their neighborhood growing up??? I just remember ALWAYS feeling like I could possibly be kidnapped growing up.