A 39-year-old man has reportedly been charged after he allegedly tried to abduct a young girl outside a store in Scarborough.
Police Officials were called to a plaza near Warden and Eglinton avenues just before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
They say that a man walked into a Marshalls store, built an altar using items on the shelves, and then went outside and attempted to grab a four-year-old girl.
Police say that the mother fought back and prevented the child from being taken.
“This one guy, he followed my daughter,” the woman said. “I didn’t know what’s going on. He just said, ‘I want to take her. I’m going to take her. I love her.’
“He said, ‘I’m sick. I’m not normal. I’m sick.’ He kept saying that … I was so scared, you know. Everybody was screaming, running away.”
The child was not injured.
Just before the alleged incident occurred, police said the man went into a Canadian Tire store, grabbed cans of spray paint and vandalized the floor there.
The suspect was arrested by police in the parking lot and he has been charged with aggravated assault, attempted abduction, and attempted abduction of a child under 14.
Probably one of my biggest fears as a parent, the prospect of Child Abduction is absolutely terrifying but it is important to remember that the chances of such an occurrence are quite slim and most kids actually do pass through childhood safely.
Although this is true, it’s totally natural to worry about you as a parent can stop this from happening to your children.
We often try to protect our kids by saying “Don’t talk to strangers” – but many child abductions involve a relative or someone the child knows.
Yellow kid’s bicycle
Here are a few lessons to teach your children and what you as a parent can do to be more vigilant:
- Parents should learn when and where kids are most vulnerable in order to better protect them. In an analysis of attempted abductions, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) found that many:
- Involved a suspect driving a vehicle
- Occurred between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Occurred when the child was traveling to or away from school
- Involved girls and children between the ages of 10 and 14
- The Internet is a great tool, but it’s also a place for predators to stalk kids. Be aware of your kids’ Internet activities and chat room “friends,” and remind them never to give out personal information. Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your kids online.
- The review conducted by the NCMEC also revealed that 83% of children who escaped the abductor, ran away or kicked and screamed and actually escaped – which means that it’s often best to take action that to be passive. Set up a safety plan for your children by:
- Encourage them to tell a trusted adult whenever anything or anyone makes them uncomfortable.
- Point out places they can go for help when walking places like school and the park.
- Remind them to travel and stay with a group.
- Teach them the tricks would-be abductors use, such as offering money or asking for help.
- Warn them about accepting rides or changing plans without your permission.