strange incident whilst shopping

[nutterbutsquash]

My ds (2.5), brother and I were in a popular high street kids shop last week, my ds was walking to the till and I was a couple of meters behind him and I noticed this man stand right behind him when he stopped to look at a display. Rather than turn around, ds walked on before turning around so fortunately didn't get a faceful of this guys crotch but it was close. Then the guy reached down to ruffle his hair but snatched his hand away at the last moment. It was so weird, my first thought was that he was a paedophile preying on my ds, but then I took a good look at him and felt I was judging him on his appearance and maybe he had learning difficulties and was just out shopping with his carer,

Didn't think any more about it until later when my bro mentioned this weird guy in the same shop standing right behind some other kid who then made a swift exit (alone)when the mother scooped him up. Now feel quite creeped out and don't know what to do . Should I call the store on Monday and let them know what happened? Is that the right thing to do, suggestions wanted.

thanks

He sounds odd not dangerous. I wouldn't phone anybody.

I think I'd be inclined to call the store. If they have CCTV they may be able to identify him and see if he's there regularly.

May not sound too dangerous now. But TBH most predators don't seem that dangerous - it's how they manage to get children to feel comfortable with them, very skilled.

And before everyone start shouting at me that children are more likely to be abused by family members - I know that. But it does happen that children are inappropriately treated by strangers. If just 1 child is saved the trauma by someone's obvious concern and sense of cummunity responsibility then I for one believe that's great.

Sorry you're feeling a bit yuk about this nutter. I'd say go with your gut. xx

Sorry to hear this happened. Fwiw when we were about 10, we went on a school trip to a zoo, and in the shop afterwards it was very crowded and several of us felt our backsides being touched or rubbed, what felt like deliberately - we only knew it as several of us when we met up after, and it had happened to loads of the girls.

We told our teacher. I guess there are people who do this sort of stuff, it's very strange and horrible, but yes I would report it to the shop with as good a description as you can and the time/ day it happened.

I remember seeing a bloke sitting on a double sided bench with several youngish women, late teens, behind him. They were perched and he was sliding his hand under their bums. He didn't touch them but if they had sat back he would of. As I walked past I told one of them and they shot up and went somewhere else to sit. He then sloped away.
It creeped me out a little and it would of done more if it had been young girls.
You could go back to the store and ask them to look at their CCTV, then leave it to them to decide if it's worth going to the police.

I would spreak with local police.

thanks for the advice everyone. I think I will call the store tomorrow and just say what I/my brother saw and leave it like that for them to deal with how they want to. For all I know it may be a common occurance having weirdos in the stores and they may have a policy in place to del with it. As you say, if it spares one child from being creeped out then that's good.