GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Grovetown police are sharing a message with parents and perpetrators after the department’s fourth undercover operation targeting child predators, saying people seeking to meet children online are not limited to strangers lurking anonymously.
Chief Jamey Kitchens said the operation made contact with over 150 people in a matter of days during “Operation Fourth Take”.
He said those involved in these cases come from a range of backgrounds.
“We had military, we had electricians, you know what I mean?” Kitchens said. “We had business owners. These are the people that you’re walking behind at the grocery store or you’re sitting next to in traffic.”
It’s a concern that spreads far and wide. Kitchens said the department could run an operation like this every week if it had the people and money to do so.
“It all just shooting fish in a barrel, but it’s shooting fish in a barrel,” Kitchens said. “If you go online and you go into these chats and you go into these different apps, it’s there and it’s not going anywhere.”
Kitchens said children are targeted because of accessibility and corruptibility.
He said this corruption can happen over a period of time, with adults trying to build a friendship with children.
It can start on platforms such as Roblox, Snapchat and Discord before moving to private messaging apps.
He said people who target children this way have offended before and use tactics like asking children personal questions.
“There is a sickness involved there,” Kitchens said. “You’re talking about sick individuals to begin with.”
Kitchens said vigilance is the single biggest safeguard. Others look like blocking specific websites and apps, limiting internet usage, or setting dedicated phone-free time at home.
“Parents have to be parents,” Kitchens said. “And if you’re providing your child a cell phone this day and age, you’re providing the world to them at their hands. And there’s a huge responsibility that comes with you giving that to them. If you have a child that is saying, no, I don’t want you to see this. Like I said, man, that’s a red flag.”
Kitchens also had a message for people who use chat rooms and apps to try to meet children.
I can’t wait to meet you,” Kitchens said. “In nearly 30 years of doing this job, there’s few things that bring me more enjoyment than seeing the look on their face when they realize, oh, this isn’t a child that I was coming to meet.”
The investigation is still ongoing.
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