Girl being followed by a scary man calls store owner her 'aunt' — the owner's split-second decision saved her life
When you’re alone and being followed, there is very little time to act and save yourself. A little girl was pressured to make such a decision in the nick of time to save herself, per 6 ABC News. She was being followed by a strange man on MacDade Boulevard in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, and had to find safety. She luckily came across the Euphoria Integrated Health and Wellness store, where owners Bill and Tina Moss helped save her life. The little girl bravely and smartly looked for a way out and tried her luck with a strategy. The owners responded astutely and shrewdly, immediately getting her out of danger.
According to Missing Kids, it is very important to teach children about “Stranger Danger.” Simple instances like this little girl being followed can be the start of something dangerous. Parents are urged to teach kids to tackle such situations observantly and smartly. It is recommended that kids are taught that police officers, store clerks, fellow parents and people of the sort can be of massive help when unprecedented situations arise. The little girl used this same tactic intelligently to save herself in a matter of seconds. The man was reportedly holding a liquor bottle and was following the girl during evening hours.
Christina Pino, the child’s mother, recalled the unusual behavior on the stranger’s end. "The first thing that he said to her was, 'Are you afraid?'" Things quickly took an uncomfortable turn when the man started making sexual comments to the girl. That’s when she was certain that something was wrong and she had to find safety. "She just thought, 'I had to get out of the situation quickly,'” her mom remarked. That’s when she picked a strategy — “Aunt Rachel.” She fortunately passed the Moss’ wellness store and looked at Bill and asked, “Hey, is that my aunt Rachel?”
The girl was actually pointing towards his wife, whom she never really knew. However, Bill smartly understood that the girl was in trouble and immediately said "Yes." His mindset was focused on protecting her “at all costs.” As soon as the girl received a response, she ran into Tina’s arms and the duo rushed back into the store. "He followed her directly from the store to the window and banged on the glass. We locked the doors, and called the police," Bill recalled. When the officers arrived, the man was still staring through the window. He was arrested and charged with inappropriate behavior and verbal contact with a minor.
Pino visited the store to thank the couple who immediately knew what to do and helped save her daughter’s life. The Moss’ however, said they were just doing what they hoped others would do for their kids should they be in a similar situation. "We're just normal people. We're parents...we just own a store in our town. So we want to make sure our town is safe and we're here for you," Bill remarked. Pino urges parents to ensure kids are aware of such situations and know how to use the resources at hand to get to safety or seek help.