MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A growing number of children in Minnesota are becoming victims of sex traffickers.

Authorities say in many of the recent child sex trafficking cases the illegal transaction began on Backpage.com. It then ends up at local hotels and motels, typically in the suburbs.

Ramsey County authorities, advocacy organizations and local hotels and motels are teaming up to combat the growing trend.

They’re training hotel employees on what to look for and when to call police.

“These children are our children,” said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. “Typically you’ve got a teen who’s a runaway, who’s very vulnerable, who ends up with the wrong person, and, before she knows it, she ends up being trafficked and prostituted.”

Ramsey County authorities hope other jurisdictions across the state will adopt the training program and help end sex trafficking.