[user104658]

I'm sure there's a statistic somewhere that says that if a kid goes up to any stranger in the street, there's like a 99.99% chance that they're perfectly safe. I mean, obviously, that 0.01% does exist and that's a scary thought, but most people will simply either want to help or - at worst - ignore them or tell them to piss off. The usual thing to tell kids is to "find a woman with kids" but really, best thing for a lost child to do is to find the nearest customer services desk in any store, doesn't matter where, and ask for help there.

The sad thing is, while actual paedophiles are likely to be male... It's not necessarily paedophiles that are the only danger, and a mentally unstable female could just as likely do a child harm either intentionally or otherwise. So basically if you see ANYONE try to take a lost child anywhere other than into the nearest shop to talk to staff, it should be a concern.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Doesn't matter how they look, anyone is capable of bad things

True but as shallow as it is, people do make snap judgements based on appearance, and as unfortunate as it is I think if many would see a younger "normal" looking man approach a kid, they'd react differently to someone who looked like a stereotypical paedo. But mostly I agree with Kazanne:

Doesn't matter how they look, anyone is capable of bad things

Whoever it was, I'd probably "hover" and keep an ear open, and help as needed, and I'd expect the same from people who didn't know me.

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

The chances are that it’s just a concerned passer by but there’s always that tiny chance its not so i’d probably go and see that everthing was ok and maybe find a security guard or maybe a cop.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I'm sure there's a statistic somewhere that says that if a kid goes up to any stranger in the street, there's like a 99.99% chance that they're perfectly safe. I mean, obviously, that 0.01% does exist and that's a scary thought, but most people will simply either want to help or - at worst - ignore them or tell them to piss off. The usual thing to tell kids is to "find a woman with kids" but really, best thing for a lost child to do is to find the nearest customer services desk in any store, doesn't matter where, and ask for help there.

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