Quick-thinking 10-year-old escapes kidnapping by asking cashier to pretend to be his mom

Around 840,000 children are reported missing annually in the U.S., and while many cases are resolved within hours, some remain tragically unresolved. A 10-year-old boy named Sammy Green narrowly avoided such a fate thanks to his quick thinking and resourcefulness. Sammy was walking home from school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, when a woman began following him, according to CBS News. The woman reportedly asked Sammy several personal questions, including where his family was and where his father could be found. She then tried to lure him into a convenience store by claiming she knew his father and offering to let him pick out anything he wanted.

Sammy’s father, Sam Green, told WPVI, "She said she probably knew me and was going to Wawa, and that he was supposed to go with her." Sammy, sensing something was wrong, entered a store he knew well and approached 17-year-old cashier Hannah Daniels for help.

Speaking to CBS News, Sammy recalled how uncomfortable the woman made him with her persistent questioning: "She was like, 'I’m going to Wawa. Are you going there? What are you getting from Wawa? Where’s your family at?'" Sammy’s quick action not only kept him safe but also demonstrated the importance of staying alert and seeking help when something feels off.

"He was like, 'Pretend like you're my mom,'" Hannah said, "and I was just like, 'all right go to the back.' He didn't want to leave my side." The nerve-wracking moment was recorded on the security camera at the store, which also shows the unfamiliar woman standing by the door as if she were waiting for Sammy. Hannah walked calmly up to the door, putting herself between Sammy and the woman and locked it from the inside.

The woman walked off, all thanks to Sammy's quick thinking and Hannah's efforts to keep the child safe. The boy recalled, "I was still shaking when I was in here." The shop's owner, Dani Small, praised her employee for having prevented a possible kidnapping. "I am very proud of her. Hannah is a 17-year-old young lady. She did everything correctly," Small said.

The boy's father felt similarly and was glad that his son had followed the instructions he'd previously given him on how to navigate such scenarios. Green said, "When we were watching that video, I cried every time I saw it. To see my child looking for help because he was afraid basically for his life that cuts you deep."

However, he said that this is an important lesson for all parents. "Think of every scenario and make sure that children know and also practice it. Practice your situations and scenarios just like fire drills." The woman involved was apprehended by police and is currently getting mental health treatment and has no charges filed against her. Sammy is being hailed as a hero and now has a family friend walk him home from school.

This article originally appeared 2 years ago.