Callum Jones
A 10-year-old boy has been praised after cleverly escaping a woman who was following him home from school.
Sammy Green from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was followed by the woman on the High Street on 11 November.
However, the clever boy made the quick decision to walk into Danie Bee Funky, his favourite shop in town, to avoid a possible kidnapping.
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CCTV footage from the shop that day shows the boy walking in and speaking to the cashier while the woman remained at the door.
Speaking to WPVI, the boy's father, Sam Green spoke on his son's experience before finding the safe space of the shop, he said: "(The woman) started walking with him and asking him where his family was, asking where his dad was."
The father said he and his son does not know the woman, but she insisted that she knew them.
He said: "She said she probably knew me and was going to Wawa and that he was supposed to go with her and he could get anything he wanted."
But once Sammy had found the shop, he was safe, as he whispered to the cashier to act like his mum because the woman was following him.
The cashier, 17-year-old Hannah Daniels, is seen in the CCTV footage putting herself between the boy and the woman as she walks over to the door.
With the woman still standing there, Hannah locks the door, but then the perpetrator decides to make a run for it.
Speaking to CBS, Hannah said: "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 Pottstown Police Department have since tracked down the woman, and she has been referred for 'mental health services' - according to WPVI.
UNILAD has contacted the force for further comment.
WPVI also spoke to the owner of Danie Bee Funky, Dani Small, who praised the boy for coming in and asking for help.
The owner also heaped praise on her employee - who at just 17 - remained calm in a tense situation.
She said: "I am very proud of her. Hannah is a 17-year-old young lady. She did everything correctly."
Speaking with CBS, the boy's father added how the event is an important lesson for every parent.
Sam Green said: "Think of every scenario and make sure that children know and also practice it.
"Practice your situations and scenarios just like fire drills."