Yrs ago in the 80′s my daughter and her friends were approached in the mall and offered an “opportunity” to be “models” by some guy. Even brazen enough to invite them out to his van in the parking lot to take a few pics.

No internet back then to aid in awareness, but I was an avid documentary follower and had seen several programs warning of such. So, had already had a talk with my kids (early teens at that time) and explained these things to them.

Thank God for that because when this guy approached these girls, that knowledge gave my then pre-teen daughter the impetus to forcefully speak up right then and there to protect herself and her friends and send the creep on his way.

A couple of her friends almost didn’t listen, but she stood her ground with them and convinced them to listen to her. I’ve always been proud of her guts and gumption over this deal.

We also reported him to the authorities who kept an eye on him but couldn’t nab him on anything. Evidently he realized he was being watched and eventually left our small city in the midwest. I’ve often wondered if he was ever caught, charged, and convicted.