Concerned parents claim a “mentally disturbed” woman is attempting to snatch their children from their streets, as police keep watch on the situation.
Videos have been shared on social media showing a woman touching and kissing schoolgirls and closely following other children.
Other troubling incidents include reports of the woman wandering into strangers’ homes and approaching strangers to ask them to buy her items such as trainers and clothes.
The stories have been shared over several weeks and frustrated parents have vowed to carry out a citizen’s arrest should they catch her in the act, Stoke on Trent Live reported.
Some residents say the incidents are 'grossly exaggerated' or just 'hearsay', while others claim to have been victims.
On some occasions she is on her own, while on others she is with a man or a group.
One worried grandmother said: "She followed me and my granddaughter and kept touching her.
“I was actually quite worried by her and it takes a lot to get me scared.
“The police need to do something because there's going to be vigilantes taking it into their own hands.
“In my opinion, she is mentally disturbed.”
One mum in Berdmore Street told StokeonTrentLive: "Is there any evidence that she has touched a child?
"Don’t get me wrong, we are scared - we are worried about it, but we’re only going off what social media says.
“She’s looked at my son as we’ve walked past but she hasn’t made no attempt. And then obviously we hear about she’s supposed to have kissed a child.
“But if that’s the case, why didn’t the parents ring the police? We don’t know what’s going on but we need to know. I’ve got two children and they’re panicking now when they go outside.
“We don’t know what’s true. We don’t know if she’s just been targeted because she’s a foreign woman."
Staffordshire Police acknowledged the woman's behaviour is 'concerning', and have moved to reassure residents.
A spokesman said: "On Tuesday night, at 7.25pm, officers attended a report of a woman approaching a child on Baker Street, Fenton.
“Officers carried out enquiries. However, no-one could provide an account of what had happened.
“We are also aware of posts on social media regarding a similar incidents, but these have not been reported to police.
“The woman has been identified, and while we understand this behaviour is concerning, we wish to reassure the community that appropriate safeguarding measures are being taken.”
