Because I teach students the age shown in the opening scene, I was reflecting on how much has not changed in the last 85 years. This one comment struck me:
Anyway, the modest house-working women can't afford to go and pick up their kids at school. So their children, who must walk home by themselves, are the ones mostly in danger.
It is still true today. Those that can afford to be protected are. Those that can't are easy to steal and do damage to.