In today's utterly terrifying news, a pedophile in Florida was caught on camera trying to lure little girls away from their parents at a Burlington Coat Factory. An alert security guard caught on and taped it all, so parents -- and the general public -- are able to see our worst nightmare unfolding before our eyes.
In the video, retired chiropractor Jonathan Davis -- an ADULT man -- is following a series of girls as young as 5. He is trying to get their attention, and when he does, he is rubbing himself (not seen in this video). Can we say OMG? It's so horrifying, it takes your breath away.
At one point he even compliments an 8-year-old girl on her butt. And all of this happened within feet of the parent. It makes you never want to take your kids out again. See below:
There are many times I am annoyed by the idea of security cameras (say when I am in the dressing room and feeling paranoid), but this is one time I say thank GOD for them.
After all, what parent hasn't had the three seconds of panic in a store when you realize your 5-year-old has hidden somewhere or walked around the corner? Sure, when I am out, I try to never let my kids out of my sight, but if they are walking ahead of me, sometimes there are seconds when I am scared.
Before, I thought that was paranoid. Now I am not so sure. We are told not to fear strangers because it's the people we know who hold more danger. This is almost every worst fear I have about pedophiles and strangers rolled into one.
With two kids, ages 5 and 3, there are seconds where a kid might bolt and I am chasing them or she may wander to one side of the aisle while I am grabbing flour on the other. Generally once a kid is out of a stroller or a shopping cart, you're just trying to keep them corralled. So this is the last kind of story most moms need to hear.
Thank God for hidden cameras, indeed. But it's a shame we need them. It's a shame pedophiles exist.
Does this story scare you?
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Comments 24
Frankly, no, the story doesn't scare me. It's creepy, yes, and I'm glad they busted the guy, and I'm glad the girls are fine. But it still doesn't scare me, because I know the odds of a child being messed with by a stranger in a public place are less than winning the lottery.
The best thing we can do for our kids is teach them to be independent. Yes, there are dangers out there, but danger has always existed, and will always exist. As our kids get older, we have to trust that they have learned from us and can start venturing out on their own.
That doesn't mean that I think you should drop your 3-year-old at the grocery while you hang out in the parking lot. But it does mean that when my son was 3, he was helping me shop by finding things on the shelves as I read them off the list. Got him out of the cart. Gave him some responsibilities. Taught him independence while I could still watch him.
It does. we had an incident recently where someone tried to take my ODD... I'm now in process of getting a concealed carry permit...
First, isn't supervising your children at all times common sense?
Second, I agree with PonyChaser! I couldnt have said it better myself!!
I agree with Ponychaser. The chances of a stranger doing something bad to your kids are low. One should be much more worried about transporting their kids in a motor vehicle, as they're way more likely to be hurt that way than from a random stranger on the street. We've always just stressed street smarts and safety with our kids and basically, hoped for the best.
No, Ghost, we're not missing the point. The question was, "does this story scare you?" And the answer is, "No". Because this is ONE MAN in a city of what, a couple million? What should the parents of those little girls have done? What COULD they have done?
Should they keep those little girls inside their houses? Never let them go outside? Because this guy *could* have been - and was, at some point - on a public sidewalk? Think about it. There could be someone RIGHT NOW, looking at you and thinking about sex. Thinking aobut having sex with you. Does that mean that you should stay in your house, curtail your life, never go out again?
No, it means that you are aware of your surroundings, take proper precautions to avoid the creepers, and get on with your life. That's what we're advocating for children. You teach them to be proactive, to be independent and aware of their surroundings. To be responsible, productive members of society.
And at some point, you have to trust strangers. Because 99% of them are, well... just like you. Trustworthy, and willing to give the shirt off their back to help their fellow man.
And yes, this dirtbag should be mouldering in jail.
OH. MY. GOSH.
Hell hath frozen over!!
Procrastamom and I agree on something!! ;)
Some of you should lay those odds with the parents in the Burlington coat factory and see how these "odds" are stacking up? Repeat offenders are committing new crimes at horrendous rates. These "superfreaks" are being released at unprecedented rates due to "budget woes" you have more bad guys in your airspace than anytime in history. Pick your crime, the real odds are you will run across one person everyday who has been convicted for it. This freak has gone down once for the same crime and he is trolling the streets now for no other reason than he made bail. Sometimes ya just have to place a sure bet and my money says he cant control his compulsions and therefore should just "disappear"...