Terrified mum issues harrowing warning about taking children to IKEA
A mother in the US has issued a terrifying warning after narrowly escaping child traffickers during a recent trip to her local IKEA store. Diandra Toyos was visiting the furniture retailer with her mother and three children when her instincts kicked in and she got the feeling something was wrong.
“After a few minutes, I noticed a well-dressed, middle aged man circling the area, getting closer to me and the kids,” she wrote in a post to Facebook. “My mum noticed as well and mentioned that we need to keep an eye on him.”
Diandra, who had her 7-week-old bub strapped to her front, kept her 1- and 4-year-old close by, but noticed the man (later joined by a second) stalking the family. “At one point he came right up to me and the boys, and instinctively I put myself between he and my mobile son,” she said. “These men weren't shopping.”
In an effort to shake the two men, Diandra and her mother decided to sit in one of the display rooms – where they remained for almost half an hour. But it wasn’t enough. “They sat too. They sat down on one of the couches on the display floor that faced us.”
This back-and-forth around the store lasted for close to an hour, until Diandra’s mother decided she’d had enough and put her foot down. “She made eye contact, very clearly letting them know that we saw them,” Diandra explained. They managed to get rid of the men and quickly alerted IKEA security to the situation.
After the terrifying experience, the mum-of-three reflected on the trip and came to a startling conclusion. “I am almost sure that we were the targets of human trafficking.”
In the post, which has since gone viral, Diandra warns other parents, grandparents and guardians to keep a close eye on children at all times. “When you're in a public place with your kids, please be aware and present so that you don't become a victim,” she wrote. “This is not meant to scare you […] Live your life. Take your kids places. But be aware. And be attentive.”