Human Trafficking in the Temecula Area

Human trafficking is a serious global issue that needs to be taken more seriously among families. Recently I met with a Great Oak High School counselor who told me that she has never encountered a student from Great Oak that has experienced human trafficking. However, she volunteers at the Temecula Rotary Club and told me a chilling story about an event that happened at the Claim Jumper off of Rancho California road. Apparently, a woman waiting outside the Claim Jumper was approached by a man(whom she had never met) who repetitively asked her to go on a date. She became concerned and called the police who came to find out that this man was a wanted human trafficker that has held a missing girl captive for two years. The man travels upward to Los Angeles and passes through Temecula on his way to San Diego and eventually the Mexican border. Therefore, Temecula is an unforeseen hotspot for this activity. Another local story happened only in January of this year. Two men were arrested in Hemet for holding two young girls (15 and 18) captive and forcing them in to sexual acts. It is terrible to think that this is happening globally but in our own county is terrifying. We must keep the people around us safe. To parents who are reading this, remind your children to never be alone at the mall, restaurants, or any other social place. We cannot have more events like this happen in our area. It must be stopped.