Internet Crimes Against Children In Chesco Are Increasing: DA

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —Crimes against children on the Internet in Chester County have increased by dramatically in four years, according to a report from the District Attorney’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The statistics show a 53 percent increase with 116 reported in 2019 to 177 reported in 2022.

“To keep children safe, the community must be vigilant about these advances, engage in open dialogues with children and monitor who they contact,” Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said during Child Abuse Prevention month.

Social media, gaming, and online dating sites are rife with opportunities for predators to prey on children.

Online grooming involves offenders manipulating children by lying about their identity and engaging in rapport building through alleged shared interests, compliments, and even by liking someone’s social media posts, the district attorney said.

This can lead to an exchange of sexual conversations and explicit images fueled by incentives like gift cards, alcohol, or drugs.

FBI statistics show that online predators target children between the ages of 12-15. One in 25 children who are solicited by online predators are asked to meet in person-which can lead to a sexual assault.

While the number of cyber crimes against children have increased, the number of child abuse allegations have decreased slightly from 2042 reported in 2019 to 1984 in 2022, according to the task force report.

Combating Internet child abuse

To attack the surge of internet crimes, the task force expanded in 2021 to 10 investigators including county detectives and police officers from Phoenixville, Oxford, East Brandywine, West Whiteland, North Coventry, Willistown, and Kennett Square.

Investigators are providing training to parents and children to educate them on internet crimes against children and internet safety.

Parents are asked to check their child’s devices, talk about the danger of possible predators, and stress that they should not share pictures or personal information with anyone.

The district attorney’s office and Crime Victims' Center of Chester County, Inc. provided an abuse prevention training program, “Stewards of Children,” focusing on learning how to prevent child sexual abuse.

If you suspect a child is being abused, contact Childline at 1-800-932-0313.