On Wednesday morning 7-year-old Brittney Baxter (seen above) was grabbed by an adult male in the toy aisle of the Bremen, Georgia Walmart. Thankfully young Brittney remembered her stranger danger training from school and did what she was taught to do and her actions prevented her abduction.
Brittney said:
“My school taught me like when somebody tries to get you, you try to get away and then get somebody you trust.”
She did just that as the following video will show. In the clip you see the stranger, who has been identified as 25-year-old Thomas Andrew Woods by authorities, quickly lifting the girl up and placing his hand over her mouth.
Brittney further said of her actions:
“I was kicking and screaming, and then he put his hand over my mouth, but I kept kicking.”
Woods, who’s being held in the Haralson County Jail, has denied involvement in spite of being caught on video. I say good luck to his lawyer on that one. Records indicate that Woods was on state probation under the Department of Corrections as part of a 2004 prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter when he was busted attempting to kidnap Baxter.
He was quoted as saying, “I didn’t touch anybody, didn’t bother anybody. I wasn’t there.” The camera and the cops say different sir.
At the time this incredibly scary event took place Brittney’s mom was in the store shopping for food. This terrifying moment is video proof that, sadly, you can never be too careful with your children when out in public places.
For a comprehensive list of safety tips for children K-5 about stranger dangers I highly recommend the following page via SafetyCops.com.
In the case of abductions here is what is suggested:
Preventing Abduction:
-> Don’t play in deserted areas — such as empty playgrounds, parks, construction sites or dumps.
-> Stay with your mom or dad in public places or use the buddy system. Play, walk, bike and skate with a friend.
-> If you are out somewhere with an adult and you lose them, don’t go looking for them. If you are in a store, go to the cashier or security guard and ask for help. If you can’t find a cashier or security guard and you are in trouble, look for a woman with small children for help.
-> Stay alert and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, like you think someone is following you, you are probably right. Try to notice if an adult is hanging around your school playground, your park or yard, and then go to where you know you can find other people.
-> If you think someone is following you, cross the street and go into a store. Tell a police officer or a mother with a child. Don’t try to hide — go to where you know you can find other people.
->If someone tries to grab you, kick, punch and yell: “NO! I don’t know you! You aren’t my Mom (or Dad)!”
-> If the person is in a car, stay as far away from the car as you can. Go into a store or turn around, and walk or run in the opposite direction the car is going.
-> NEVER, ever hitchhike or accept a ride from someone. Don’t go near a stranger’s car. NEVER get into a car with someone you don’t know, for any reason. Sometimes people use tricks — like saying your mom is hurt, or they lost their dog or kitten — to try and get you to go with them. DO NOT GO WITH THEM!
-> If someone does manage to get you in their car, do not put on your seatbelt. Jump out when you see people and the car has to make a stop.
Brittney said she was thankful for her training and that it helped her know what to do. So am I Brittney and that’s an understatement!
