Kids Being Left Behind At Toy Store

the denver channel ^ | today | some dude

[Rodney King]

Kids Being Left Behind At Toy Store Timbuk Toys Managers Say Parents Dropping Off Kids To Run Errands Posted: 11:40 a.m. MDT June 27, 2002 Updated: 1:04 p.m. MDT June 27, 2002

DENVER -- Managers at Timbuk Toys wish some parents would just get a baby sitter.

Once or twice a week, employees come across children who have been left at the store, sometimes for hours at a time, while their parents run other errands. They get no warning and the kids aren't supervised.

"Sometimes we don't even know that they're here," store manager Sylvia Horton said Wednesday. "There could be a fire and we all run out and leave a child, or they could leave and try to cross the busy street corner."

The problem at the store on Colorado Boulevard has gotten so bad that Horton has been forced to call police.

"It's extremely dangerous," said Sgt. Michael Anderson. "It leaves an opportunity for kids to fall into the hands of ... sexual predators easily."

Employees of Timbuk Toys approach children they think may be alone and ask for a parent. Horton said the kids will often tell them that the parents have gone shopping at a nearby King Soopers grocery store.

"We had one little girl who was left for a long time and we walked her over to King Soopers to find her mom," said Horton. "Her mom took her home and then called the store and apologized."

Sgt. Brad Lenderink, who oversees the Denver police child abuse unit, said that if the police are called there is a chance that the child will be placed in a family crisis shelter. The parents will be asked to come to the shelter to meet with Human Services the next day.

"The child could very well have to spend the night in a shelter," he said.

Parents could also be charged with wrongs to minors or misdemeanor child abuse, both of which carry possible jail time, fines, court appearances and involvement with Social Services.

Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

[Rodney King]

It would be nice if they told us how old the kids are. Are they 4 or 12? If they are 12, then I don't think it's a big deal.

[Illbay]

"Dr. Laura Told You So" Bump.

[BADROTOFINGER]

It is a big deal. It is basically getting babysitting for free by dumping your kids in an area where the doors are open. I dont really trust CPS, but they should be called in these situations.

A friend of mine owns a sportscard store that his wife works at part-time and a woman dumped her 3 kids there for nearly 6 hours. No money, and the two youngest didnt even have any intrest in the products there. But they were instructed to stay in the store. Incidentally, this store makes some of my childhood bedrooms look absolutely huge, as it is a suite in a converted hotel wing. Also the kids hadnt eaten, so this lady I know, being a good Christian, had to feed them. She stayed at the store 15 minutes after closing then finally called the local police. As the officer was getting ready to make a decision as to what to do about the situation, 'mommy' pulled up, and started getting pissy with both of them. My friend said that she should be paid for the baby sitting, as well as for the food her kids ate. The cop said pay up or go to jail. She paid. Jail might have taught her a lesson tho...JFK

[Illbay]

If they are 12, then I don't think it's a big deal.

You're kidding, right? Do you have kids? They are never really "safe" until they're grown up and out (and sometimes not even then).

A twelve-year-old would be prime pickin's for the sorts of sick freaks who prey upon the Elizabeth Smarts of the world.

[Rodney King]

When I was 12 and we went to the mall, I was allowed to go to toy stores on my own, while my parents went to whatever stores they went to. When I was 12, I was allowed to walk in to town by myself and go to stores.

If there is a big store that a kid could easily, and wants to, spend a hour in, then I don't think it's bad if the mother says "I'll meet you back here in an hour".

[Destructor]

This is totally irresponsible. Some people really shouldn't have kids.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I could see letting a child who has proven trustworthy shop in a very low crime area. Heck I remember trotting from my house over to the drugstore at the nearby strip mall to buy comic books and Cheetos many a time when I was 10 years old. But she at least ought to give the kid some kind of identification to carry in case of emergency.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

What you said!

[Rodney King]

Right, I am not defending the people here at all. I simply said that I would like more info. If a kid was 12 and was simply allowed to go to the store on his own while the mother bought groceries, then that woudln't bother me.

[Gaston]

When I was 12 there were no malls and Walmarts were smaller than todays supermarkets. Letting us kids run free downtown was not a problem as any adult was more likely to help us than to harm us. In most states the age at which a child needs no supervision is usually 13 or 14.
One time at the local mall (and we live in Smallville) I had taken my 12 year old son to the restroom as he was not permitted to go alone. After exiting the restroom a nearby pay phone rang and rang so I decided to pick it up. On the line was a man who said he had seen my son and I in the restroom and would like to have sex with the both of us. I hung up immediatly but then realized that the man who called had to be somewhere nearby watching. I found a security guard and told him of the situation and he informed me that this happened all the time but not to worry as he knew of no times that the caller had acted on his perversions. What a comforting thought.
Although when I was a child this kind of thing seldom happened, today it is all to common.

[Illbay]

When I was 12 and we went to the mall,...

H*ll, when I was TEN, I left the house in the morning, and my mom didn't see me again until suppertime. I even took a sack lunch with me.

That was then and, sadly, this is now. These days kids aren't safe, period. Not even in their own neighborhoods.

But look at this from another angle: These parents who just dump their kids in the toy store as free babysitting are likely not very responsible parents to begin with. And their kids probably reflect that.

So what happens when a kid gets into some sort of predicament--he pulls over a toy display, say, or even tries to leave the store with an "action figure" tucked in his jacket.

Where's the parent? What does the store clerk--usually a clueless twenty-something himself--do in that situation?

This is just multiple levels of irresponsible behavior depicted here, the same sort of thing in microcosm that bedevils our society in general.

People eschew responsibility, and they expect "someone else" to pick up the slack. Is it any wonder the Democrats continue to do quite well with their promises that "someone else" is going to pick up the tab for all you do?

[FITZ]

It was a common practice in this city ---parents would drop off kids to play in stores until one child sex offender went into a local store and took a little 5 year old girl and brutally murdered her. Now fewer parents are using stores as free babysitters.

[Larry Lucido]

Left Behind At Toy Store

Sounds like the title of a new Tribulation novel. Plot line could be some sort of post-Rapture "Home Alone" episode.

[mewzilla]

I used to work at a mall. Believe me, no-one who loves their kids leaves them unattended at a store. No-one.

[Rodney King]

Yeah, you guys are right.

[AppyPappy]

When I was 12, I walking downtown by myself. But I wouldn't walk downtown today by myself.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wasn't that what happened to John Walsh's son, Adam? Wasn't he left in a toy store while mommy met her lover at the mall?

[Rodney King]

Once again, please, I am not defending this practice. Adam Walsh was much younger then the hypothetical twelve year old we are talking about.

[afraidfortherepublic]

H*ll, when I was TEN, I left the house in the morning, and my mom didn't see me again until suppertime..

Maybe that's why you are so grouchy today! (jes funnin' ya...don' get ina hissy fit!) :-))

[afraidfortherepublic]

No, no, no. I was jsut citing an example -- not criticizing. It just amazes me what some people do with their kids. Years ago we lived in Houston and went to the Astrodome for many events. The place was HUGE. I remember going there with an Australian friend and her 2 boys -- one of them the age of my youngest and one even younger, about 6 and 10, as I remember. She allowed those kids to go anywhere without supervision, while I accompanied mine to the concession stand, the bathroom, etc. When it came time to leave -- of course we had a hard time finding her kids. Scared the living daylights out of me!

My older daughter sometimes babysat her boys. They had an outside stairway to the upstairs of their house, and the kids would sneak out and run around the golf course after my daughter thought they were safe in bed. Everyone (except me and my daughter) thought this was a great prank.

[afraidfortherepublic]

When I was 12, I was allowed to walk in to town by myself and go to stores.

So did I. But when I was 12, this country was in a different time and place. My children (who range between 37 and 43) were not allowed to do that -- EVER.

[lsee]

Nope, Reve Walsh allowed Adam to briefly play with a video game in Sears while she stepped a short distance away to look at a lamp. This was a good family torn apart by a stranger abduction. She never left him and never went to the mall to meet anyone. All it took was a villain having a small opportunity and he took it.

[Illbay]

That's a pretty crass allegation. Can you back that up?

[Illbay]

Actually, one aspect of a parent's grouchiness today is knowing their kids DON'T have the same level of freedom that we did when we were young.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Sadly, given today's PC insanity, if the store reports this to the authorities, the parents could sue for some kind of "infringment on parental rights" crap or the child could sue for some "inflicting emotional harm by scaring me" crap.

Likewise, by not doing anything, the parents could sue for something like "contributing to the idiot parents' bad decision" crap, and the child would sue for some sort of "allowing a child to remain endangered" crap.

I guess you could even go one step further and see the pedophile suing for a "infringment on my freedom of expressions of love" bull$hit... Guess I woke in a foul mood this morning. Apologies to all.

[lsee]

My apologies. Your commment bothered me, so I dug a little deeper. Turns out Reve did have an affair, but it ended before Adam was taken. It did come up in the press, though, and rumors circulated that the lover had something to do with the disappearance (he was cleared). I don't remember hearing about the affair, which is why your comment surprised me.

[Malacoda]

These are the same parents who wouldn't hesitate to sue the store if Precious Little (unsupervised) Snowflake injured him/herself.

What an utter crock.

[afraidfortherepublic]

That's a pretty crass allegation. Can you back that up?

What? That sometimes you are grouchy? I'm only basing that on your posts which are sometimes (surprisingly) diametrically opposed to everyone else's thoughts. :-)) That is not a criticism -- just an observation. Perhaps you are more perceptive than everyone else on this board! Besides, your screen name projects a grouchy image.

Don't get so sensitive. I was just "funnin'" you. I like reading diametrically opposed commentary. Otherwise, this would be a very boring board.

[afraidfortherepublic]

BTW, I used to be President of the local Library Board (thankless job). One of the major complaints from the staff was parents who would drop their kids off at the library and leave them there for hours. The kids weren't interested in the books at all and often caused a lot of trouble. The librarians got really ticked off because they were rying to serve the needs of the patrons (adults and children) who were really interested in what the library had to offer. There is a swimming pool and playground next door and it just looks like an attractive place to leave kids, but it is hard on library and city staff to keep track of your child -- and they don't. It's really a dangerous practice.

Even in my freewheeling youth, the library was always thought to be a dangerous place. Even in my college years men used to hang around hoping to pick up girls, or steal a kiss in the stacks. I'm sure it is no different in these licentious times.

[Illbay]

Sorry, but that was a bit over the top. I mean, if you have some basis for saying Adam Walsh's mother was cuckolding her husband, which led to Adam's disappearance, then that's fine. But I think you ought to be prepared to support it.

[Illbay]

I'm sure it is no different in these licentious times.

But there is. Nowadays, they hope to steal a great deal more than a kiss.

[kaylar]

According to the book I read on the case (by John Walsh himself), Adam and his mom got separated, and he wound up near a gang of teen and preteen youths who were acting up. The young sales clerk threw out these youths-but she was afraid of appearing racist, so she threw the innocent Adam out too. Once he was outside (per John Walsh's speculation), Adam tried to reenter the store, but was confused, and a "helpful stranger" (possibly Ottis Toole) offered assistance.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Sorry, but that was a bit over the top. I mean, if you have some basis for saying Adam Walsh's mother was cuckolding her husband,

The basis is that it was in all the news stories at the time and was in Walsh's book too, I'm told. I've heard him tell about himself in an interview. Read the thread before you blast someone, Lord or Lady Grouchiness :) Others have confirmed the story.

I didn't make this up, I am merely commenting that people who have left their children to their own devices in public places, for whatever reason, have come to regret it. The world we live in now does not lend itself to children wandering around on their own, unattended. There are a lot of nuts out there.

The poster to whom I was replying seemed to think that it was OK for kids to be left at the Mall on their own to play in stores. Dumb idea! Where do you think a child molester/kidnapper might look for his prey? Somewhere where a kid is left alone with no one in charge, that's where! Playgrounds, toy stores, public swimming pools, beaches, libraries, & malls are all good pickings. Good grief, now they even come right into your child's bedroom, a la Elizabeth Smart and Danielle Van Dam! A child in Milwaukee was snatched from the park when her step-father turned his back to buy a soda this spring. It's been over a month and there is no trace of her.

In my youth, other people might step in and ask what was going on, but nowdays people are aloof and immune to any problem your child might be having.

[RebelDawg]

OK, I have to admit... While in High School (many moons ago) I worked in the evenings at one of the large toy stoys, Children's Palace. I worked in the warehouse there.

I can tell you for a fact that alot of loser parents would bring their very young children into the store and then leave to do... well who really knows what they were doing...

Our store manager would have to call the police when we actually noticed this happenning and report the incident of the children being abandoned. Who knows how often we didn't notice this type of thing goign on...

The children veried in age but almos tall were quite young, most between 4 and 9 years old I'd guess I'd guess.

These people are horrible parents, I couldn't imagine ever doign such a thing. I'm not sure what happenned when the police tracked down the parents of these various children...

[RebelDawg]

After eading a few more posts I think it is worth re-iterating that these children were very young, they were not dropped off in the store to shop. They were abandoned while mommy and/or daddy went out on some selfish errand or maybe worse.

The kids could have been injured or kidnapped. I don't like CPS either but parents like these deserve being reported.

[RebelDawg]

Sorry about the typos LOL!

It's been a long day!

[Nea Wood]

A few years back I remember reading that Disneyland had this problem. When schools let out for the summer, parents would buy season passes for their kids (which I guess is cheaper than day care or baby sitters.) They would drop the kids off at Disneyland in the morning, go to work, then pick them up at the end of the day. Disneyland employees caught on to this when they found kids sleeping on the benches.

[MEGoody]

"The problem at the store on Colorado Boulevard has gotten so bad that Horton has been forced to call police."

That is exactly what should be done when unsupervised kids are found in the store - simply report them as an abandoned kid.

[supercat]

H*ll, when I was TEN, I left the house in the morning, and my mom didn't see me again until suppertime. I even took a sack lunch with me.

When I was 5, I would walk to school by myself (about 0.4 miles according to mapsonus.com, but probably less). When I was 7, my parents moved to a different town where I lived a bit further from school (about 0.5 miles, maybe more) and would sometimes stop at the gas station on the way home for a candy bar or video game. After the move (i.e. when I was 7) I would routinely walk alone to friends' houses (most within a couple blocks). When my parents went to Madison (WI) my siblings and I would frequently go to the mall, going around independently until it was time to meet and go home. This was in the mid-to-late 1970's.

I can't imagine having to go to the same stores as my siblings at the same times; it just seems mind-boggling to me that things have gotten that bad.

[Illbay]

Yeah, that was the size of it when I was a kiddo.

My daughter is 12, she'll be attending middle school, sixth grade, next year. The school is RIGHT BEHIND my house, over the creek. She could walk there easily enough. But she won't, becaause luckily the BUS comes and picks the kids up and takes them to school. THE BUS, for goshsakes!

If it didn't I would drive her, but there's no way in H*LL that my kid's going to walk to school.

Isn't that SAD?!?!?

[supercat]

If it didn't I would drive her, but there's no way in H*LL that my kid's going to walk to school.

What's ironic is that more people probably die each year from a lack of exercise stemming from an inability or unwillingness to walk anywhere, than are killed or abducted by the 'stranger attacks' of which everyone these days is so afraid.

I'm curious, actually: are there more predators today than 20 years ago, or are people more aware of them, or are they no longer locked up as they should be, or what's changed? It seems crazy that children should have to have their parents drive them *EVERYWHERE*, and yet these days it would seem as though a parent would have to be crazy not to drive their children everywhere. Is it a matter of geography (i.e. I grew up in a small town, and maybe such places still are as they used to be) or what?

[Illbay]

I'm curious, actually: are there more predators today than 20 years ago, or are people more aware of them, or are they no longer locked up as they should be, or what's changed?

I, too, have thought about this. I used to think it was that the media had sensationalized things.

Now, I tend to believe there ARE more predators around, for the simple reason that the family has all but broken down in our society thanks to Leftist social engineering. Pornography is rampant, disaffection and isolation due to divorce, etc., are everywhere you turn.

One thing that was a stark reminder to me: I looked up the state of Texas list of known sexual offenders in my small neighborhood, and found THREE! One was aggravated rape, and the other two were rape or molestation of a child.

Now, like you say, maybe we just know about it more now, but OTOH things like that used to be common knowledge a couple of generations ago, too, through the grapevine.

I have had my children approached in the past. Two of my stepsons, when they were 6 & 8 years of age, had two men attempt to entice them into a van. Fortunately they ran and got away. About six years later, the younger one was assaulted late at night (when he was out without permission--his mother and I were divorced by that time) by a man posing as a policeman, who took him into a ditch and sodomized him.

When you can relate personal anecdotes like that, to me it is more than just irrational fear.