On the one hand, I think we can all agree the "Stranger Danger" scare tactics of the '80s were a little overboard.
On the other hand, the advice to be wary of strangers may have just saved one 10-year-old boy.
Grayden Dowland of Riverton, Utah bravely scared off would-be kidnappers in events caught on a doorbell camera.
The story was shared by his mother, Kristin VanAmen Dowland on her Facebook profile.
Grayden was coming home from his basketball coach's house, only 200 feet away. A white, four-door sedan soon started following, and the three men inside tried to entice him.
The boy told his local newspaper about the incident.
"They said, 'Hi' and I started walking faster. And they said, 'Get in the backseat, we have some candy.'"
Grayden started running home after that. His family's doorbell caught the whole incident on its camera.
It was pretty scary.
Grayden tries to open the door, but it's locked. So instead, he runs out and grabs some rocks and threatens to start throwing them at the vehicle.
Then he runs to his neighbor's house. Luckily, their door was open. Grayden locks the door as soon as he enters.
The family is very lucky that their neighbors were able to help.
In the video, the car pulled a little down the street but didn't immediately drive away. The whole ordeal has shaken the family.
Grayden's father, David said:
"I saw the video and it's gut-wrenching. We've been here for fourteen years and to have it happen on your front doorstep, literally, it's an eye-opener."
The family is changing the way they handle their kids walking home alone. Instead, they'll have Grayden's coach accompany him home at night.
Despite this, they're still worried this might happen to another family.
To that end, they've reported this to the police and are hoping other Riverton residents can help track these men down.
The MECO 1080P Doorbell Camera with Free Chime is available here.
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
