Crowds are a hallmark of the holiday season. Whether at a Christmas market, shopping mall, or holiday parade, families often find themselves shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers. While most people are harmless, these environments can be overwhelming and risky for children and elderly family members.
I’d like to share a story that has stayed with me for years. One of the very first jobs I ever had outside of being a lifeguard was working as a shoplifting agent for Sav-On Drugs in California. My territory wasn’t easy, I worked in Inglewood, Watts, and Compton. Most nights were routine: walking the aisles, watching the parking lot, sitting in front of those big security mirrors. But one night, during the holidays, I saw something I will never forget.
It was about 8:30 on a Thursday evening, just a few days after Christmas. A family came into the store, mom, dad, and three kids. The youngest was in the cart, the other two were running circles around it. They couldn’t have been more than six to eight years old.
At first, the family didn’t catch my attention. What did catch my eye was another man. He was dressed sharply, looked out of place, and instead of looking at items on the shelves, his eyes stayed locked on the kids. He smiled at them. He waved. At one point, he even reached into his pocket and handed them candy—and the parents didn’t notice.
As the family made their way to the toy aisle, he followed. He struck up small talk with the parents, who, without hesitation introduced him to their children. That alone made my stomach drop. Within moments, he was picking up the little one from the cart, holding him as if he belonged there. The whole thing felt wrong.
I stepped off the mirrors and onto the floor, keeping close.
When the family reached the checkout, one of the kids asked if they could get ice cream. Back then, Sav-On had a liquor store on one side of the entrance and an ice cream parlor on the other. The stranger eagerly jumped in—“I’ll buy the kids some ice cream.” He never bought a single item in the store, but he was ready to walk them across to the parlor.
So I followed.
I watched him order the ice cream, listened to the small talk he made with the kids, and then I heard the words that froze me: “I’ve got to run out to my car—I left my wallet. Why don’t you come with me?”
And without hesitation, one of the kids said: “Can I go with you?”
And he smiled. “Sure.”
That’s the moment I stepped in. I told the man, “I’ll stay here with the kids, you go get your wallet.” Then I called the father over immediately and stayed with the family until they left the store. I wrote down the man’s license plate and turned it over to the police. I don’t know what happened after that. But I do know this: he was too smooth, too skilled, too confident. He had done this before. And if I hadn’t stepped in that night, I am certain it could have ended in tragedy.
That’s why I share this story. Parents, never walk into a store assuming everything is skittles, unicorns and cupcakes. Don’t be so nice that you ignore your instincts. There’s a difference between being nice and being safe.
Have a plan. Teach your children what to do. Stay alert. Because while most people are shopping to celebrate, some are there for a far darker reason. And one moment of awareness could be the difference between going home together or not going home at all.
Too many parents or caregivers 'hope' their children instead of actively 'guarding' them. Watching is passive, it assumes the child will stay nearby, no one will approach them or distract them. Guarding is proactive, it means staying close enough to intervene instantly, they are positioned right in front of you..
For example, in a crowded store, don’t have your child walk behind you. Instead, keep them walking in front of you so they remain in sight.
Teach children and seniors to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate greetings:
Children should know it’s never rude to alert you if they feel uncomfortable. A child pointing out that someone
Crowded environments require strategy:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that holiday-related injuries send over 14,000 people to the emergency room every year (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2021). Many of these incidents happen in crowded spaces where falls or panic can escalate quickly.
The difference between 'hoping' your family stays safe and 'guarding' them with intention can prevent tragedy in crowded holiday environments.
Join us on December 17 at 11:00 a.m. CT for a focused webinar on building confidence, safety plans, and communication strategies your family can use immediately.