Grand Prairie, Texas, mom Victoria Edwards did what any parent would do on a hot day.
After taking her kids to the grocery store with her, Victoria helped her 5-year-old son up into the car, then leaned over to start the vehicle and get cool air flowing throughout.
It was only a matter of seconds, but enough time for a stranger to approach her vehicle, and take off with the cart her 2-year-old daughter was strapped into.
Her son alerted her of the suspect, crying out, “Mommy this man is trying to grab the basket with Madison in it!”
Spinning on her heels, Victoria turned just in time to see an older man—believed to be in his 50s or 60s, with salt-and pepper hair—running off with her cart and daughter.
Chasing after him, Victoria says she was screaming at the top of her lungs, “Let my baby go! Let the basket go! You need to get out of here!”
As she fearfully sprung into action, the man claimed he was only “trying to say hello” to the toddler—all the while continuing to push the cart out of Victoria’s reach, and simultaneously trying to lift the girl out of her seat.
Fortunately, Madison was strapped in.
The unidentified man eventually gave up and darted off into the passenger side of a black pickup truck.
The fact that he wasn’t alone is scary in itself. While Victoria was chasing after her baby girl, another suspect could have easily made efforts to snatch her 5-year-old son from the car.
Thankfully that wasn’t the case.
The worst part about her whole experience is that no one in the parking lot made any effort to help her. To think shoppers just watched as a terrified mother chased after a man, yelling “let my daughter go” and didn’t act—it’s awful to think about.
Victoria hopes sharing her story will prompt other parents to be that much more aware of their surroundings.
“Even though you think you are in an ok neighborhood, sick people go everywhere. So, just be aware and, you know, protect your kids at all costs.”
The Grand Prairie mother is not alone. Recent reports of attempted kidnapping show some suspects are no longer luring kids to their creepy white van with puppies and candy, but blatantly snatching children from within their parents’ reach.
https://youtu.be/vV4rE4Z_d0U
It happened to a couple in a Philadelphia Dunkin’ Donuts back in April, and again to a woman who merely turned away from her grocery cart to grab an item off the store shelf.
Victoria’s son screaming about the man to his mother is the greatest thing that could have happened in this case. Had she been turned away any longer, there’s no telling what may have happened.
Dr. Gail Gross suggests equipping your kids with these safety tips to ensure they know how to effectively draw attention should they ever be targeted in an attempted kidnapping:
1. The Velcro technique — Make like Velcro: Grab and hold onto something and do not let go. Grab a tree, grab a bike, grab a stop sign post, or even grab a different adult, because another adult is not usually involved in an abduction. This makes it harder to disengage a child in an attempted abduction.
2. Yell as loud as you can “Stop, Stranger!” — Teach your child that anyone that is not a mother or father is in the new definition of a stranger if they are trying to take you away.
3. Windmill technique or swimming technique — Rotate arms in a big circle, preventing attacker from getting a good grip. This can turn attackers arms inside out — which is a weaker position from which he could grab hold of the child.
4. Make a lot of noise — Give a child a whistle on a necklace and teach them to blow on that whistle when they might be in danger. Bang on something, scream, be loud to call attention from others who might be able to help. A good commotion can frighten an abductor and by shifting the balance of power, turn the tables on them.
Dr. Gross says kids are vulnerable and trusting, so it’s important to teach them these four basic safety rules:
1. Don’t walk away with anyone other than a parent, or the person who was already arranged to take care of you that day.
2. Remember, an adult does not need help from a child — not to find a puppy, not for anything. If an adult is asking you for help, that’s a warning sign.
3. Avoid getting into a car with a stranger at all costs.
4. Know the rules: what is OK and what is not OK, and have confidence to take action if you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you.
For younger kids such as infants and toddlers, the safety precautions fall completely on parents. Know where your children are, and never leave them alone in a public place, car or stroller.
It probably goes without saying, but because every circumstance is different, never ask a stranger to hold your baby—even just for an instant.
Victoria was doing what any parent would do—trying to cool off the car for her kids on a hot summer day. She wants other parents to know the importance of early safety training, and the unthinkable threat that could be lurking in just about any parking lot.
Most of all, she hopes her experience will serve as a reminder to parents to be aware of your surroundings, and that of your children.
SHARE her story today, and help spread the stranger danger awareness that we parents NEED to know about.
