Parents Encouraged to Review Safety with Kids After Mall Assault

Telling children not to talk to strangers isn’t always enough to keep them from danger, according to police and self defense experts.

After a teen girl was  earlier this month, police say children should practice safety scenarios, learn to make a scene if something is wrong and to review rules and emergency plans with parents.

“It’s so understandable how that could have happened,” Joe Van Deuren, owner of , a third-degree black belt and instructor of self defense and martial arts, said of the incident at the mall. “We teach kids to trust adults and not to make a scene ... We need to teach them how to say ‘no’ loudly and with assertiveness.”

Status of the Mall Case

The reported assault at the mall on Jan. 8 has locals concerned since police haven't located the suspect.

"The department takes this incident very seriously and finds it to be quite concerning,” said Anne Arundel County Police spokesman Justin Mulcahy.

Mulcahy said the ruse in the Westfield Annapolis mall case was unusual. The suspect reportedly “isolated [the victim], suggested there was some stolen merchandise and she was in trouble.”

"At no point did the suspect identify himself as security or law enforcement, but he implied that he was in a position of authority to take advantage of the situation,” said Mulcahy. “This unusual case highlights the fact that there are individuals out there, who may go to these lengths to lure children away." 

Mulcahy spoke of another example he’s heard of where an individual used a map book and pretended to be lost. 

Incidents like that, where adults ask children for help, should raise alarm, according to Officer Jennifer Card of the city of Annapolis Police Department.

“An adult asking a kid for help,” she said. “[It] just doesn’t happen.”

Although the mall hasn’t publicly announced any additional security measures, officials there did affirm their commitment to guests’ safety.

“ is committed to the safety and security of our shoppers and we’re cooperating with local authorities,” said Christi Wallace, marketing director at the mall.

Safety Tips

Despite security measures, places where groups of young people gather, such as malls, can be natural targets for predators, Card said.

“Predators can spot the loner in the group, the outsider, the timid, introvert,” she said. “They watch – at the mall, the food court, the Game Stop, in front of large department stores or candy stores – anywhere groups of kids hang out.” 

Van Deuren stressed that girls, ages 10 to 14 years old, are the primary targets of abductors. And even though parents tell children not to talk to strangers and give lists of rules to follow, victims are often too afraid to act in a dangerous situation, according to Van Deuren.

“It’s a typical human response,” he said. “Girls, especially, are conditioned not to use their voice.”

Card, who teaches safety courses for children aimed at helping them avoid victimization, agrees.

“Show strong character and don’t be afraid to speak up and speak out,” she advised. “Use your voice. Stick together and watch out for each other.” 

She teaches kids not to go out alone and to always get specific permission from parents — and new permission, if plans change.

“Always take a friend, stay with a group, and say ‘no’ to a ride unless you have specific permission to go with that person at that specific time,” she said. “Then call and confirm you’re in the car and you’re OK.”

Children and even teenagers should be reminded that strangers aren’t always scary-looking people, Card said. Sometimes they look like legitimate authority figures.

“It’s not a man in a mask,” she said. “A stranger is any non-family member, neighbor, acquaintance or any adult you don’t know.”  

Card pointed out that real police officers usually come in pairs and advised looking at the uniform, the name tag and the badge. Van Deuren added that kids should say they want to call their parents because “a legitimate security officer will respect that.”

What Parents Can Do

Safety experts say parents should have an action plan in place with their children. Before allowing unsupervised trips to the mall, parents and children should:

• Point out safe areas, such as stores that cater to adults, escape routes and exits, and the concierge or security office
• Look together at the directory to study the layout
• Go through scenarios and point out safe zones
• Determine when and where you’ll meet

Van Deuren said parents should “role play” and go through different scenarios with kids.

“It’s the only way you can get them to really integrate the safe responses,” said Van Deuren. “Kids learn through play.”

Card suggested practicing responses children might use if confronted by a stranger.

“If they say ‘you need to come with me,’ challenge that,” she said and offered some suggested responses:

• I want to see your identification
• Who are you?
• What’s your name?
• Who do you work for?
• What did I do?

If children or teenagers do find themselves in a dangerous situation, Van Deuren said they should do whatever they can to get away. Some techniques can be taught, although some come naturally – like pinching the skin of the inside upper arm or inner thigh and giving it a hard twist. (What sibling didn’t learn that trick at an early age?) Kicking shins and stomping your foot down the front of an assailant’s shins are easy, effective and give victims a chance to get away or break a grip, Van Deuren said.

“The goal is to create an opportunity for escape,” he said. “If you can get seven to 10 seconds of separation (a head start), they likely won’t chase you.”

Other Resources

offers RADkids, which stands for “Resist Aggression Defensively,” a self-defense course for children and teens. According to their website, “The first few seconds of a potentially violent encounter are critical. When a child is approached or grabbed, the response needs to be immediate, instinctual and absolute. This instinctual response can be ‘taught’ and enhanced through individual demonstration, training and practice.”

The county’s Criminal Investigation Division Sex Offense Unit is actively investigating the reported assault at the mall and urges anyone with information to call Detective Jack Hartzel at 410-222-3750.

To see the sketch of the suspect in the reported assault at the mall, click .

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