A little girl’s swift instincts is what helped save her along with her sisters from being kidnapped in from of their hours in Manchester. The girls, Sade, age 8, Roxie, age 6 and Ameya, age 2, were out front playing together when the horrible encounter took place.
The kidnapper used donuts to lure the children into his van and this was all caught on video. The shocking footage shows a stranger driving up to the home in a white van, as the girls played on their trampoline in the front yard.
Rachelle Haigh, 26, was the one who released the video in an effort to warn neighbors of this predator among them.
As the man stops in front of their Parington, Greater Manchester home, he quietly asks the girls if they want to “come and get some doughnuts”. The mum, who was on her couch at the time also heard some commotion. She could hear him shouting to “come quickly” and “come get some doughnuts”.
The next thing she knew was that her daughter had run in and told her to come quick. The older girls ran away and even went back to get their younger sister off of the trampoline.
She ran outside and instantly confronted the man in the white van and asked him what he thought he was doing.
Acting very strangely, he defended himself by saying he was “just offering the girls some doughnuts”. He then drove off quickly.
Haigh reported all of this to the Greater Manchester Police, who are in the process of investigation. Police confirm that they’ve gotten her report and seen the horrifying CCTV footage from October 7th.
While the mum is still feeling horrified about the entire incident, she is also grateful that her girls are still with her. She is proud of their quick thinking and ability to not be lured in by the promise of sweets. All of that “don’t talk to strangers” training had definitely stuck with the little girls, who did exactly the right thing – run away and get their mum.
Haigh is now using all avenues she can to warn people of the dangers of child abduction and to let people know to watch out for a mysterious man in a white van. Regardless of the color of the van or the circumstances, this can happen to anyone’s children at any time.
Teach your children to be aware of their surroundings and to get quickly away from any strangers who are offering them something. While this situation have been catastrophic and involved children going missing, the bravery and smarts of the young girl and her mum meant that no children were harmed. While police are on the lookout for the man, be sure to always be aware of your surroundings, no matter where you are!
Share this story with anyone you know who has young kids, it could save their life. What did you teach your kids to help protect them?
