Why?
Because you fit the profile of a typical abductor. (Who, in almost all - but not all - of these cases are older white men.)
So, even though you know exactly what to do, you have to be careful while doing it so that your actions cannot in any way be misinterpreted as an attempt to abduct the child.
In dealing with the typical lost-child-asking-for-help-in- the-department-store-situation, I follow four rules:
Rule #1: No matter how much they are crying or look like they need comforting, do not touch the child in any way.
Rule #2: Without holding their hand or touching them lightly on the shoulder or anything else, have them follow you to the nearest sales representative, preferably in a wide open sales area.
Rule #3: Tell the sales clerk that the child says they are lost and ask them for help. Usually this means a call to security.
Rule # 4: Once the sales representative takes charge, check out with them and leave.
Now, of course, common sense has to prevail and there are times when more physical contact must occur. You can never leave a small child in a dangerous situation.
Within the last two days, there has been an incident here in Northern Virginia, where a woman came across a crying 3 year-old girl on a sidewalk while out on her morning jog. She took her in charge but immediately walked her to a neighborhood house and asked the resident to call the police. The police came and discovered the girl and her 19 month-old sibling had been left alone at the family home (which, IIRC was within a block of where the jogger first encountered her). When mom returned home (about 2 1/2 hours later), the police were waiting for her. Mom (who is from southeast Asia judging from her name) got counseled by the police and is being investigated by Child Protective Services. The kids are at home in the custody of Dad (who was away at work at the time of the incident).
its sad i know....i recently took a long trip with my 7yr old in tow...shes a beauty and often attracks much attention...what i found sad was that i find myself suspicious of anyone who comments on her...or is friendly to her. its a scary world now thanks to the amount of idiotic scum that prey on kids...but again due diligence is the responsibility of the parent...and one can never let that down in public places anymore.
your story of the unattended child makes my point...this irresponsible mother is just as bad in my opinion.
Good advice and worth repeating.
FMCDH(BITS)
” (Who, in almost all - but not all - of these cases are older white men.)’
Well, that would be me. But not just me. Airlines won’t put guys in reserved seating next to women if they can help it, and children no way. We men are just perverts biding our time, doncha know. And none dare call it profiling.