The media deserves a good chunk of blame for this phenomenon. They have inflamed society's fears into paranoia by hyping and over-reporting exceptional events, giving the false impression that child predators are anywhere and everywhere.
Meanwhile, children are far more likely to be physically or sexually abused or kidnapped by close relatives. But that story is less compelling from a media perspective so the public is less exposed to it.
I agree. I also think that like many things, this kind of paranoia regarding pedophilia is taken the the extreme in the US. I've spent time in several European countries, Greece for example, where it is perfectly OK for an adult man to pat someone else's child on the head without the mother pulling the kid close.
Meanwhile, children are far more likely to be physically or sexually abused or kidnapped by close relatives. But that story is less compelling from a media perspective so the public is less exposed to it.