Do you know what a child molester looks like?  The image conjured in your head looks ugly and menacing.  Penetrating eyes staring into your soul with no shame or remorse.  Perhaps a pock-marked face and greasy, unkempt hair.

You can spot a predator easily.
 
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Can’t you?
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The fact of the matter is a person who can take advantage of a minor is rarely spotted before they have done irreversible damage with unthinkable acts.

The predator could even be Milkshake Duck- an individual who is initially thought of in a positive way but later revealed to have some serious faults.
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A study from the University of Windsor in Canada found that a large portion of male predators are left handed and have minor physical flaws on their face and neck.  This indicates that specific aspects of neural development can affect one’s risk for pedophilic tendencies.  But it is important to note that not all men with superficial facial flaws have these tendencies.
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The child predator can even be a female.

The cleanly pressed, soft spoken woman next door whom you’ve known for years. The lady who works at the bank who always remembers your name with a smile. Although men perpetrate almost 95% of offenses against children, the women are far more calculating and manipulative.

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Although some predators exhibit no observable behavior pattern that would act as a clue, many behavioral indicators are shared amongst people who prey upon children, including:

*  Are aware of their impulses toward children before they reach age 18

* Tend to be married and/or have a family

* Relate better with children than adults and are comfortable with kids and their interests

* Have few close adult friends

* Tend to prefer minors of a certain age group

* Usually prefer one gender over the other, however some are bisexual in their preference

* Seek volunteer or employment opportunities with programs involved with kids in the age group of their preference

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* Pursue children for sexual purposes but may become emotionally attached to the extent that their emotional needs are met through engaging in relationships with the child

* Photographs or collects photographs of many children in any state of dress or undress

* Posses alcohol or drugs to furnish to victims to gain “friendship” or lower inhibitions

* Speaks with children in a way that equalizes their relationship

* Talks about children in a way they would about their adult significant other

* May offer childcare or to take minors on trips in order to manipulate situations so as to be near them

* May be found hanging around parks, playgrounds, arcades, and anywhere their preferred age group likes to congregate

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Always be aware and stay safe. And listen to your instincts- they never lie :)

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Sources: Burnsville Police Department, U of Windsor, TheBlaze.com.  Images: Pexels