In some places the system is overused and alerts get issued in custody disputes, claims of abuse, etc. It doesn't always mean abducted by a predator or stranger and that's part of the problem.
Yup. And I wish they'd make it clear. Not that I think people should be allowed to take the law into their own hands, but as courts are imperfect, I get why a good and loving parent might do this. There's a world of difference in how I would respond if I saw a concerned parent with their child illegally than how I would respond if I knew I was seeing an actual child predator.