(OCEAN CITY, Md.)- One minute they're there, the next they're gone. And it all happens in just a matter of seconds. A child has gone missing.
When it comes to losing a child, many are quick to blame the parent. But some parents in Ocean City, Maryland, are opening up about how easy it is for small children to slip away, especially in big crowds.
"It's very scary, it's just a panic situation in an instant," described Annie Stahl, a Maryland mother of two.
Stahl says she knows first-hand how simple it is to lose sight of a child.
"Just last night, my daughter wanted to show me a bracelet, and my son slipped right out of my hand, and when I turned around he was right outside of the store. So, you just have to make sure you keep their hand in yours."
Ocean City Police say about 15 cameras were recently installed on the Boardwalk, making it easy for police to locate missing children.
"The camera system that we have is a great tool for us, and it really helps us locate lost children and also prevent crimes from occurring on the Boardwalk," explained Lindsay Richard, public affairs specialist for Ocean City Police. "Our dispatchers can quickly look on to the cameras and be able to see possibly the parent or the child and pass that on to the officers or the lifeguard."