Girls at Orlando summer camp claim man tried to lure them with mobile app
According to the families, a group of young girls attending a city-run summer camp were contacted by a man who was using "What's App" on Wednesday.
Updated: 10:33 PM EDT Aug 3, 2017
WEBVTT LURE THEM AWAY THIS WEEK USING ASOCIAL MEDIA APP.REPORTER: PARENTS PICKING UPKIDS AT THE DR. JAMES R SMITHRECREATION CENTER EXPRESSEDTHEIR FEAR REGARDING AN INCIDENTWEDNESDA>> I'M OK NOW BUT YESTERDAY IWAS READY TO FIGHT.>> WEDNESDAY MORNING A GROUP OFYOUNG GIRLS ATTENDING A SUMMERCAMP WERE CONTACTED BY A MANUSING WHATSAPP, A SOCIAL MEDIACHATTING UP THE GIRLS HAD ONTHEIR CELL PHONES.THE GIRLS CLAIM THE MAN WASWALKING HERE NEAR THE CENTER.>> HE STARTED CONTACTING USSAYING THAT I AM COMING TO GETYOU AND STUFF.>> THEY MAN -- THEY WERE IN AGROUP CHAT.HE GOT ALL OF THEIR NUMBERSSOMEHOW.REPORTER: THE GIRLS REPORTED THEINCIDENT.POLICE WERE CALLED.THE KIDS WERE CAPPED INSIDE.THEY WERE GIVEN THE TALK ABOUTSTRANGER DANGER.>> DON'T TALK TO THEM.JUST WALK AWAY.REPORTER: THE MAYOR'S OFFICESAID THE CENTER'S STAFF HASASKED FOR EXTRA PATROLS ANDREMAINS IN CONTACT WITH OPD.PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS WHO WALKEDTO SUMMER CAMP HAVE BEENNOTIFIED.>> IT IS SCARY.THEY HAVEN'T CALLED HIM.HE IS STILL ON THE LOOSE.
A group of female campers claimed a man tried to lure them away this week using a social media app, officials said.Parents picking up kids at the Dr. James R. Smith Recreation Center expressed their fear regarding an incident Wednesday.According to the families, a group of young girls attending a city-run summer camp were contacted by a man who was using "What's App" on Wednesday. "What's App" is a social-media chatting app the girls had on their cellphones. The girls claim the man was near the center, sending them text messages telling them they were pretty and trying to entice them to come to him."They said they were in a group chat and the man had the app, whataever the app is, I don't have the app... they said he had it and got all their numbers some way, somehow," Temaya Alston, a mother of one girl, said.The girls reported the incident to camp counselors,; police were called; and for the rest of the day, the kids were kept inside. The mayor's office provided a statement saying the center's staff members have asked for extra patrols and remain in contact with OPD."It's scary, it's scary cause they haven't caught him, don't know who he is -- he's pretty much on the loose," Alston said.Alston said she trusts the staff to keep her kids safe but hopes the man involved is identified by police.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A group of female campers claimed a man tried to lure them away this week using a social media app, officials said.
Parents picking up kids at the Dr. James R. Smith Recreation Center expressed their fear regarding an incident Wednesday.
"What's App" is a social-media chatting app the girls had on their cellphones.
The girls claim the man was near the center, sending them text messages telling them they were pretty and trying to entice them to come to him.
"They said they were in a group chat and the man had the app, whataever the app is, I don't have the app... they said he had it and got all their numbers some way, somehow," Temaya Alston, a mother of one girl, said.
The girls reported the incident to camp counselors,; police were called; and for the rest of the day, the kids were kept inside.
The mayor's office provided a statement saying the center's staff members have asked for extra patrols and remain in contact with OPD.
"It's scary, it's scary cause they haven't caught him, don't know who he is -- he's pretty much on the loose," Alston said.
Alston said she trusts the staff to keep her kids safe but hopes the man involved is identified by police.