A Sydney father has issued an urgent warning to Aussie parents after recalling the moment he caught a stranger filming his 13-year-old son in public.
Justin Lewis, who shares his business and family life online under the handle @mryellowexpress, regularly posts heartfelt reflections about fatherhood.
But it was one recent video, viewed more than 100,000 times in just a few days, that struck a nerve with parents across the country.
‘Keep an eye on your kids, mums and dads,’ he began in the clip, before recounting the chilling encounter that left him ‘shaking with anger’.
Lewis explained he had been walking past a cafe in Sydney’s inner city, where his son used to work as a teenager.
‘I used to love just going there and just watching him work,’ the dad said.
‘He makes the dough, makes the pizzas. He’s on the till and just problem solving, just winning.’
But on one particular visit, something felt off.
Sydney father, Justin Lewis (pictured), has issued an urgent warning to Aussie parents after recalling the moment he caught a stranger appearing to film his 13-year-old son in public
‘I sat down at a booth, and I noticed there was a guy who had his phone out, and I thought, “Is he filming [my son]?”‘
Lewis said he watched for about a minute to make sure he wasn’t mistaken, admitting he was ‘in shock’ at what he saw.
‘I went up to him and explained the situation,’ he recalled of the moment he confronted the stranger.
‘The blood drained from his face, I was furious, and the guy could tell.
‘So, I won’t go into detail, but I made him delete the video in front of me and he left, and we never saw him again.’
While he chose not to elaborate on the confrontation, his message to fellow parents was clear: even as children get older, they still need protecting.
‘These days stuff is just weird.’
‘I don’t know if it was like what it used to be, or it’s different now, but keep your eyes on your babies, guys – you don’t know what the hell’s around the corner,’ he warned.
The video was quickly flooded with comments from parents who said they shared his fears, with many blaming iPhones and social media for making the world ‘a different place’ now compared to what it used to be.
Justin explained he had been walking past a cafe in Sydney’s inner city, where his son used to work as a teenager and he noticed a stranger filming him without his permission (stock photo)
‘There are so many sickos in this life – I bring it down to the access to the internet and social media,’ another commented.
‘I’m in my 30s and my dad would bury anyone who would touch his kids,’ one warned.
However, for some, Lewis’ story hit painfully close to home, with others recounting similar alarming stories of their own.
‘My daughter had work experience for school at a restaurant,’ one mother revealed.
‘She hated going and broke down one night saying she can’t go back because her boss was sexually harassing her and she never went back.’
‘Be very careful, my son was approached when he was 15, and a few months ago (now 17), by two separate men on different occasions pressuring him into accepting a lift despite him telling them no,’ another shared.
Others praised Lewis for speaking up and encouraging parents to trust their instincts.
The confronting story has reignited debate about children’s safety in public spaces, particularly in an era where smartphones are ever-present and filming can happen discreetly.
While Lewis stopped short of speculating about the stranger’s intentions, his underlying message resonated widely: vigilance matters.
‘If you love your children, you know exactly what I’m talking about.’
