being followed home

all right so here's the situation you're

walking home after a night out with

friends that's when you hear footsteps

behind you you turn around to see

someone walking toward you you think to

yourself are they following me

if you're ever in this scenario here's

what you do

start walking slightly faster if you

hear the person's footsteps catching up

with you then your suspicions are

correct try to make turns three or four

right turns are enough to bring you back

to your starting position

it'll confirm that the person is after

you since they have no reason to circle

the area and you'll get a chance to

disappear the moment you make a turn

start running until they lose sight of

you if some people are walking by you

can loudly say hey and pretend they're

your friends tell them someone is

following you and ask if they can walk

with you to a more public area until you

find another way home don't go to your

house or apartment when you're being

followed even if the group of people is

offering to help you get there

this pursuer will then know where you

live and might come back later or wait

for you to leave the house but let's

assume nobody is on the street and this

figure is still behind you if you're

wearing a hoodie tuck the hood into your

sweater to hide it if your hair is up in

a ponytail or bun let it down as you

walk it'll be harder for your follower

to grab your entire set of hair or pull

your clothes if they have nothing to

hold on to now you must lose them if

you've turned off a busy road earlier

you can pretend you've forgotten

something by patting your pockets say

out loud ah where is my wallet as you do

so

start walking even faster in the

opposite direction this person will be

less likely to pursue someone who's

running toward a busy street and he

probably won't run after someone who

doesn't have their

never say you've lost your keys they'll

come in handy later

don't take your phone out and start

browsing or texting the light from the

screen will make it harder for your eyes

to adjust in the dark

that and looking through your phone will

slow you down observe your surroundings

and learn your exact location

as you walk find out the street name

look at the house numbers and what

stores or buildings are around you'll

need these details later if you can't

get away and the side street or alley

you're on seems endless turn around and

look at your follower look at their

clothes eyes height and age hmm black

hoodie navy blue pants green baseball

cap got it then you can give an accurate

description to the authorities doing

that will also send a clear message to

this person yup I see you people with

bad intentions rely on the element of

surprise with a long hearty eye contact

you'll take that away from them it'll

catch them off guard and they won't see

you as a target stand confident with

your shoulders back chin up don't look

like you're lost or nervous you'll give

off a I know what I'm doing vibe they

don't like that let's say the green hat

guy is brave and decides to approach you

and ask for something keep consistent

eye contact if they ask you for

directions don't look down or away from

them to reach for your phone you'll

become distracted just tell them you

don't know the way they're asking is

suspicious enough who doesn't have a

phone with maps these days if you're

carrying books or shopping bags be ready

to drop them as soon as you feel

something's off holding onto heavy items

will slow you down now you'll need your

keys place them in your palm with the

keys teeth sticking out through your

fist if worse comes to worst you'll have

something pointy to defend yourself with

so you can get away don't stay quiet

make a fuss as you try to leave and yell

fire instead of help people react to

that word more often than a call for

general help Plus nobody wants to chase

someone screaming at the top of their

lungs and drawing attention to

themselves if they're following you from

a further distance then get your phone

out and call the police that's when you

need to know all those details about the

street you're on your location and the

buildings stay on the phone with the

dispatcher and follow their instructions

another possible scenario is someone

following you in public

if that happens try to get to a grocery

store or anywhere you can lose yourself

in the crowd if your jacket is a

different color from your shirt take

your coat off it'll be harder for this

person to identify you if you walk into

a restaurant or coffee shop and your

follower is determined they'll walk in

and wait for you one option is to go

straight to the bathroom and stay there

for five to ten minutes

they might get tired and leave if you

get out and they're still there get in

line order something and casually let

one of the staff members know you're

being followed they'll probably do

something and keep an eye out for you

grab your order and sit down get on your

phone and let your family or friends

know where you are so they can come and

pick you up or keep you company while

you wait try these tricks yawn if the

person yawns to it means they've been

watching you yawning is visually

contagious pretend to look at your watch

if they check there's two they've got

their eyes on you we instinctively mimic

the person we have our attention on to

trick them leave the cafe and walk a

little bit down the street until they

lose sight of you then as soon as they

come out walk back in to the coffee shop

they'll have no reason to walk back in

with you unless they were following you

when someone comes to pick you up ask

the staff to guide you to the back exit

just to be safe avoid walking alone if

you do keep the busy streets and always

be aware of your surroundings you know

all that stuff that lies beyond your

phone screen just messing with you Hey

bottom line I hope nothing like this

ever happens to you but being prepared

for it gives you confidence like nothing

else.