Young girl asking to take out trash for $. Why would this happen? Help please! Trying to figure out what to do.

What would cause a little girl (maybe 8-10) to walk around an apartment complex asking if there is any garbage she can take out for you for $1?

We live in not the best apartment community, had to move in a pinch on next to nothing so I know darn well we are amongst drug activity and domestic abuse activity as well as God knows what else, I mind my own but this is the second time this has happened, different girl this time. I don’t keep cash on me so just tell them I don’t have anything and asked if they wanted any snacks. If I didn’t have two young children of my own I would take all these poor kids in.

What would cause her to do this? Trying to earn money to save? Trying to earn money to help mom or dad? Told to go out and get money “or else?”

Curious if anyone has experience with this. Every time I open the door I leave our alarm on so I have 30 seconds to deal with it and if something happens (like they’re used as a lure-which I feel shitty thinking like that but I feel like I have to) and someone else comes up then our alarm will go off soon and send the police.

But it’s been weighing on my heart and having a second try it, I’m wondering why. And wondering if I should do something even if it’s just not answering or saying we don’t have anything when they do ask and catch me outside.

**this likely could be totally innocent and I’m just over thinking it. I mean, I think I tried to start a dog walking business around 10-11 but my parents supervised and it was in a super quiet neighborhood where the crime rates were non existent. Where we live in crime central now.

Also adding, no I have not asked either girl. Both caught me off guard. The first knocked at our door, the second was walking and I was going to let her pass and she asked if I had any. I have little littles and I’m a bit paranoid. It seems odd to me, because it’s clear we live in the freakin ghetto amongst a bunch of crime so I don’t think kids would be out asking for money without a very strong reason. I did ask if the second one needed any food or anything else, the first was even more off guard. Granted a lot of the kids run around during the day, but this was at night and just had a bad feeling.