The ten-year-old was followed by a strange woman who tried to lure him away.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on November 17, 2022. It has since been updated.
A fourth grader in Pennsylvania recently evaded a potential kidnapping attempt and the whole scenario has been captured in startling surveillance footage. According to ABC 6, 10-year-old Sammy Green was on his way back home from school when a woman began following him. "She started walking with him and asking him where his family was, asking where his dad was," the boy’s father, Sam Green, told the station. Sammy revealed to CBS News that the suspicious woman made attempts to lure him into a convenience store nearby and the boy grew uncomfortable in her presence. "She was like, 'I'm going to Wawa, are you going there? What are you getting from Wawa? Where's your family at?'," he told the outlet.
Since Sammy wasn’t familiar with the woman, he decided to retreat into Dani Bee Funky which is the 10-year-old’s favorite store in Pottstown. The store's surveillance footage captured the fourth grader walking straight up to the cashier, a 17-year-old named Hannah Daniels, and asking her to act like his mom to thwart any potential attempts that could have been made by the lady following him. In the footage, the suspect can be seen waiting for Sammy right outside the store.
"He was like, 'Pretend like you're my mom', and I was just like, 'all right go to the back.' He didn't want to leave my side," Hannah recalled. "I was still shaking when I was in here," Sammy said, remembering those terrifying moments which are every parent's worst nightmare.
A 10-year-old boy is safe after a frightening experience on his way home from school in Pottstown. @HughesCBS3 reports. https://t.co/siJmFCUyWZ
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) November 15, 2022
Hanna can be seen maintaining her calm and walking over to the store's entrance to lock the door. The shop’s owner, Dani Small, said that she is very proud of her employee for how she handled the situation. "Hannah is a 17-year-old young lady. She did everything correctly," Dani said.
Sammy’s relieved father, Sam Green, had similar sentiments to share. He is proud of his son for following the advice he had previously given him to tackle such scenarios when his guardians are not present. "When we were watching that video, I cried every time I saw it," Green shared. "To see my child looking for help because he was afraid for his life, that cuts you deep." He added that this incident should serve as a cautionary tale for every parent. "Think of every scenario and make sure that children know. Also, practice it, practice your situations and scenarios just like fire drills," he said.
The Pottstown Police Department was able to track down the woman involved in this incident and she is now receiving mental health assistance. The woman has not been pressed with any charges as of now.
References:
https://people.com/crime/boy-evades-potential-kidnapping-asking-cashier-pretend-shes-mom/
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/boy-sammy-green-stops-pottstown-attempted-luring-incident/
Cover Image Source: Youtube/ABC 6 Philadelphia
