How to teach a child about strangers?

[fifibee16]

Was in a store a few months back and an employee said hello to my shy child. He did not respond and the employee said to another 'he knows not to talk to strangers'. In the car, my son asked 'what are strangers?' I responded ' people you don't know, most are nice but some are bad , some people are not nice, strangers are bad.'
I tried in vain to get my point accross, he recently said to me 'why do strangers steal little boys?' My heart broke. He was crying as he asked. I told him most strangers were lovely people, and very few are not good. I said to him how worried I get when he runs off in the supermarket, because I don't know where he is. The poor 4 year old apoligized and said he will not run off again and does not want to get lost.
How do I explain the difference between good strangers and bad? Thank you.

[Wayne Kerr]

Everytime I talked to a stranger, my dad would punch me in the face... after three times (slow learner) I never talked to another stranger again.

35 years later and I no longer talk to my dad!