7-year-old girl thwarts Walmart kidnapping thanks to “stranger danger” training

You may have seen the unsettling video of 7-year-old Brittany Baxter being grabbed by a would-be kidnapper at a Walmart store in Bremen, GA last Wednesday.  The entire world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Brittany escaped;  but it’s important to note how and why she was able to get away.  Basically, Brittany used her “stranger danger” training. In the attached video, you can see a man grabbing Brittany, trying to cover her mouth, and attempting to carry her off.  But according to Brittany in an interview provided by sky.com:

… cool-headed Brittany remembered to use evasion tactics taught during a school 'stranger danger' lesson.

"I was looking at princess and fairy stuff," she said.

"I tried to kick as hard as I could. You try to get away and tell somebody you trust."

Brittany's mum Georgeann Baxter added: "She said that a man had tried to kidnap her."

"He had picked her up his hand over her mouth, but she was kicking and screaming. He then dropped her and ran out."

The kidnapping attempt, the alleged kidnapper, and his car, were all captured on Walmart surveillance video.

Thanks to that video, police were able to trace the car’s license plate to 25-year-old Thomas A. Woods who now faces attempted kidnapping charges.

And according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Woods was on probation at the time of the alleged kidnapping after serving a sentence for a voluntary manslaughter conviction in DeKalb County, GA.

But as Woods was being led in handcuffs from the police department to a patrol car, he told reporters that the police had the wrong man.

"I was never there," Woods said.  ~ ajc

The important message that all parents need to take away from this story, is that you must share the following with your children: “If anyone ever grabs you, kick, scream, bite, do whatever you must do to get away and to a safe place.”

No matter how vigilant we are, no-one can keep their child safe every second of every day. Children need to be able to think, and act, on their own behalf.

God Bless Brittany Baxter.  She may be responsible for untold numbers of future thwarted kidnappings.

Check out the attached video to see Brittany's attempted kidnapping, hear Brittany explain what happened, and, see the arrest of alleged kidnapper Tom Woods.

Also see:

• Actor Tim Kang: 10 ways to help keep your kids safe this summer
• What actor Tim Kang wants you to know could save your children's lives
• Possible child abduction thwarted by vigilant mom in Aberdeen
• ‘The Mentalist’ star Tim Kang wants to prevent child abduction

Connect with Rich Webster on Facebook and Twitter