The sound of the ice cream truck bring kids out faster than a picnic draws flies.
Parents, please go with your kids.
When my daughter bolted out the door to see the ice cream man, I pillaged my wallet for a few dollars. Went outside, and saw my kiddo already munching on an ice pop. I asked how much, ice cream guy said don't worry about it.
Well...okay. Would rather pay for it, but wasn't going to push the issue.
Next time they rolled around, it was the same drill... But ice cream guy's helper was taking pictures of the neighborhood kids with his cell phone.
Not cool.
Strangers should not be taking pix of kid. Ever. Especially without the parent's knowledge and consent.
Having read up on Pizzagate, I know that "collectors" make catalogs of kids for buyers to choose from; they help make those kids disappear. As ice cream truck drivers, the can see where those kids live, where they can be found.
The address on the van didn't belong to my community; it was to a town 65+ miles away, near the state capitol.
Parents, please keep a close eye on your kiddos. Creeps abound, be aware.
Edited to add:
This incident happened about 5 years ago. Today, the jingling tune of an ice cream truck got my knickers in a twist, wrote this cautionary memo to parents and caregivers.
The truck was reported to local law enforcement, and I haven't seen them within the past two summers. The new ice cream truck has the address of a neighboring city, and isn't an old, converted windowless van... but still. Due dilligence is needed.