Amanda Kalidy and her 4-year-old daughter Jenna were shopping at Target when it happened. While they were browsing the shelves, another little girl approached them. That encounter hid far more dangers than seemed at first sight…
Here is how Amanda describes the incident on her Facebook:
“I have to post this as a reminder to all moms. I was at Target when a girl [who was] about nine years old kept approaching my daughter. I didn’t think much at first. But she was pretty persistent, so I got irritated and told her that my daughter didn’t want any candy and we kept walking.
She got upset with me and as I went to check out she came up again trying to get Jenna to take some gum. I looked over and a man was across the store signaling to her. I told the cashier and he called the manager, which then they both bolted and got into a van.”
They clearly meant to lure little Jenna in with candy!
Amanda could never imagine that such a little girl could present such a big danger. Now she is warning all parents to keep a closer watch on their children in public places, and wishes she could have helped the girl who was obviously not fully aware of her part in someone else’s scheme.
“If I had known what what was happening at the time, I could have grabbed the girl and saved her! Point being, they wanted to take my daughter! She’s four!
The manager told me that [human traffickers] target places like Target because moms are there during the day with their kids, and many times moms turn their backs when loading the cart. That’s when they can grab them from shopping carts.
Please be careful and always watch your kids!”
Amanda was petrified by the thought that her daughter could have been snatched. She was very lucky to have noticed the man before he could attempt anything. Ever since then, she is far more careful when out shopping with little Jenna or her brother.
Human trafficking is a very real threat that happens far more often and far closer than you think. Besides, supermarkets are the favorite place of pickpockets who would sometimes send a child as a distraction to snatch your purse or car keys. Stay vigilant, and make sure other parents know this too!
