Dilemma - judgmental or lax?

So here’s a dilemma which probably shouldn’t have been a dilemma, now that I think about it. More experienced folks would probably have known exactly what to do here. But I’m curious.

I was at the mall today exchanging a baby outfit, at one of the swankier malls over in the rich part of town. While we were there, we stopped at a play area that was situated out in the middle of the stores, a setup with a big circular set of couches and some play equipment in the middle. There are several of these in this particular mall – a big huge one that’s centrally located, and a few way out on the outer edges of the mall in fairly secluded areas. I was looking for somewhere to nurse, so we went to the secluded area.

As I got situated, I took stock of who was there. Two other mothers, four or five toddlers climbing over the wooden boat in the center, and Creepy Guy From Every Parent’s Nightmares.

At first I thought he was with one of the kids, and didn’t think too much of him other than noting that he looked, well, creepy. But something about him made my internal radar go off – I gradually ascertained that he wasn’t with ANY of the kids, and also noted that he was watching the kids with a look that, pardon the cliché, made my blood run cold. The best word I can use for the look on his face is… passionate longing.

Ugh.

But Sofie was eating, and I still wasn’t completely sure one of the kids wasn’t his, so I just sat there and checked him out. Made eye contact a few times. Stared a little.

Soon enough, everyone left with their kids and he stayed behind. Alone. He kept fiddling with something small and black in his hand and I kept trying to get a glimpse of what it was – I thought it was a phone clip or something. Finally I got a clear look and noticed that it was a little gorilla figurine, about one inch tall. Which could also have been innocent but sure seemed like something you might use to lure over a child, should an unaccompanied one come along.

Again, ugh.

So – what should I have done here? I thought seriously about going to find mall security to report that there was a creepy guy in the play area, but then I doubted myself because, after all, he was just sitting on a public bench, doing nothing illegal. All I could say was that he looked suspicious. And is that enough to sic the mall cops on someone? Sure, it’s enough to make me tighten my grasp on my baby and leave the area, and had one of the other mothers not left, the one whose kids he was looking at, I would have joined her and discreetly mentioned it to her.

But should I have reported it? Was I hysterical and judgmental to think I even should, or unbelievably lax for not going through with it?

As it was, Sofie and I left, and although I looked for security for a minute or two, I didn’t find them and we eventually just left. But I feel bad about it now, and suspect that the answer is HELL YES, you should have sent someone over there to check it out. Because, well, pedophiles are everywhere, and this sure sounds like a potential bad situation in the making.

Bellevue moms at the mall today, I’m really sorry I didn’t do something more. Next time I will.