Brave 9-year-old girl outsmarts stalker in chilling CCTV footage
By Adam Albright-HannaDec. 19 2024, Updated 4:17 p.m. ET
A quick-thinking nine-year-old girl in Russia managed to evade a man who was following her home, using her instincts and surroundings to outsmart him. The 2021 CCTV footage, which has since gone viral, captures the heart-pounding moments of her escape and is now being used as a vital tool to educate children about personal safety.
A Terrifying Encounter
In Stupino, Russia, a nine-year-old girl noticed a man following her as she walked home from school. The CCTV footage shows her entering her apartment building, with the man close behind. She cleverly used her knowledge of the building to evade him. Instead of heading straight for the elevator, she hid in a doorway out of sight. The man, unaware of her location, walked towards the elevator while the girl sneaked back down the stairs and exited the building.
She climbs the staircase before pretending to head towards the elevators, hiding in a doorway instead
Parental Guidance on Safety
The YouTube channel Active Self Protection praised the girl for her awareness and quick thinking. The host emphasized the importance of parents teaching their children to trust their instincts and recognize the "creep alarm" when something feels wrong. "First things first, parents teach their children that they are capable of defending themselves," the host stated, stressing that children should feel empowered to act if they sense danger.
Tricked, the man heads to the elevators
Community Reactions and Police Response
The incident sparked significant discussion on social media platforms like Reddit, where users lauded the girl's bravery. One commenter highlighted the need to teach children to seek out safe adults if they feel threatened: "Teach your kids to CHOOSE their assistant in such circumstances. Don't wait for someone to approach them to 'offer them help.' Teach them to choose, from the crowd, the person they want to have help them."
Not seeing the girl's hiding spot, he continues to the elevator
Despite the frightening nature of the footage, authorities reported that the man, who has mental health issues, was detained but released without charges as no crime had been committed according to their investigation, according to UNILAD.
This article was originally published on July 8, 2024. It has since been updated.
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