What to do if you see beggars with little children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing.

I'm from Paris, where I've been immunized by years of having to literally step over gypsy women with decoratively dirty infants on Metro steps, sent there to beg by the gypsy "mafia". Begging and pick-pocketing is what they do professionally, and it's terrible for the kids who are dragooned into it and lose any chance at integrating into society.

Do not encourage beggars on highway dividers, it's extremely dangerous for them to stand there, and please do not enable those with children from doing the same. There are homeless shelters, there are women and children centers, there are food pantries, and even though none of these things are perfect, it's still safer than standing a hair's breadth from passing cars.

How do I get the info on all these resources and pass it to them? Maybe give them a brochure how to get help? I work for a living full time and have my own kids, so not really volunteering anywhere and have no idea how to help, and I know giving them money will only worsen the problem.

They have all the information they need on how to get real help. These people are professionals.

I get it, I am wondering if I must call 911 as a potential trafficking red flag. Are there laws against panhandling with kids? IDK. The woman also could be trafficked to stand there and collect money as are the kids who may not even be her own. These people looked like they lived somewhere, they were not ragged or dirty. Kids, even if forced to beg with their families suffer too, but even more so if this isn't their parents.

[Anonymous]

It's become popular for people to beg with children to garner sympathy. They may not even really be their actual children. This started in large cities like NY and LA and has trickled to other cities. There was an investigation in NY about women begging with babies and they found the same few babies being passed amongst dozens of women all day to beg with. I would just call the police if you're concerned about the children's welfare. I've seen "families" like this hop into cars and leave after a few hours of begging. They know about benefits and usually aren't truly homeless more like scammers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing.

I'm from Paris, where I've been immunized by years of having to literally step over gypsy women with decoratively dirty infants on Metro steps, sent there to beg by the gypsy "mafia". Begging and pick-pocketing is what they do professionally, and it's terrible for the kids who are dragooned into it and lose any chance at integrating into society.

Do not encourage beggars on highway dividers, it's extremely dangerous for them to stand there, and please do not enable those with children from doing the same. There are homeless shelters, there are women and children centers, there are food pantries, and even though none of these things are perfect, it's still safer than standing a hair's breadth from passing cars.

How do I get the info on all these resources and pass it to them? Maybe give them a brochure how to get help? I work for a living full time and have my own kids, so not really volunteering anywhere and have no idea how to help, and I know giving them money will only worsen the problem.

They have all the information they need on how to get real help. These people are professionals.

I get it, I am wondering if I must call 911 as a potential trafficking red flag. Are there laws against panhandling with kids? IDK. The woman also could be trafficked to stand there and collect money as are the kids who may not even be her own. These people looked like they lived somewhere, they were not ragged or dirty. Kids, even if forced to beg with their families suffer too, but even more so if this isn't their parents.

I would just call the non emergency number.

[Anonymous]

I just pass by, but inside me I want to call the police and CPS on them and watch CPS actually do their job instead of harassing a stressed mother who slapped her kid who then told on her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immediately call the police

I actually considered it, but would it be emergency number? My main concern in these cases if these kids are theirs, no kid should be exploited and even if it's their own kids, they shouldn't be exploiting them like this either given other resources exist for families with kids. I am sure if they went to the nearby church, they could get help there and directed to places where resources are provided. I certainly want to hope so, that we have some security net for such families.

It's not illegal to exploit your kids and beg. I've called the police a few times on situations like these, the officer spoke to them, said the kids were fine and told me it was legal to beg with them and there was nothing they could do about it.

[Anonymous]

There’s a family that hangs out in front of the Giant/CVS in McLean. I asked them once where they were from and the dad said (in perfectly good English) “we are from Romania”. Not sure why I was surprised by that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a family that hangs out in front of the Giant/CVS in McLean. I asked them once where they were from and the dad said (in perfectly good English) “we are from Romania”. Not sure why I was surprised by that.

OMG! This is them! It's where I was, I have never seen them before, but I don't go there often. They were right in front of the Giant with their sign and a stroller and two very bored little kids. The man said something to the woman in a language that wasn't English. So, this must be their "family business" then and it's not illegal to beg as one of the PPs had said. I feel better that at least these kids must be theirs as they are a fixture there. I do hope they one day find some other occupations, both parents at least looked to be in decent health, how horrible for their kids. I certainly won't be giving them my money when I am around there next time.

[Anonymous]

They are irish travelers (American gypsies, basically). You see the same people all over in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are irish travelers (American gypsies, basically). You see the same people all over in Fairfax.

So, it's a bunch of families, not just one family, or this is one specific traveling family? What do you mean by "irish travelers"?

The ones in the Giant parking lot didn't look Irish to me and their language wasn't English. Someone who actually asked them said they are from Romania.. Anyway, I hope this family gets help, they looked frustrated, so business must not have been doing well, I just hope they don't take this out on their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are irish travelers (American gypsies, basically). You see the same people all over in Fairfax.

So, it's a bunch of families, not just one family, or this is one specific traveling family? What do you mean by "irish travelers"?

The ones in the Giant parking lot didn't look Irish to me and their language wasn't English. Someone who actually asked them said they are from Romania.. Anyway, I hope this family gets help, they looked frustrated, so business must not have been doing well, I just hope they don't take this out on their kids.

You might not be old enough to remember, but google "Madelyn Toogood." She made headlines around 2002 for beating her daughter, Martha, in a Kohls parking lot.

[Anonymous]

There’s a family frequently in the Giant parking lot in Vienna too. I don’t know if it’s the same family you are seeing in McLean. I don’t think there is a law against this but I would never stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a family frequently in the Giant parking lot in Vienna too. I don’t know if it’s the same family you are seeing in McLean. I don’t think there is a law against this but I would never stop.

I didn't stop, I was in a rush. I just got depressed thinking about it and worried for these kids being trafficked and wondered if it's my obligation as a citizen to call the police. Obviously, if I observed that these kids were getting hurt I would not hesitate, but they weren't and even if the man was irritated with something and seemingly annoyed with the woman, they didn't have any altercation at all for police to get involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a family that hangs out in front of the Giant/CVS in McLean. I asked them once where they were from and the dad said (in perfectly good English) “we are from Romania”. Not sure why I was surprised by that.

Gypsies are originally from Romania

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a scam. There’s a welfare system. They are trying to play on your emotions.

Big time. Watch them all day and sometimes the kids get swapped out and at the end of another tough day they all get in their SUV and head home.

Yep. I’ve actually seen them get picked up in a nice late model suv.

[Anonymous]

Where I live (not DC) this is very common, I see at least a couple families begging each week.

Calling CPS or the police won’t do anything. What are they going to do? Take the kids away? Tell the parents to stop doing the one thing that is probably feeding their kids? They’re not doing anything illegal.

Just ignore them, or buy the kids a Happy Meal if you want to contribute without paying money.