Feel a bit like Piglet at the minute....

[kkymmy]

....very very small and not 100% sure of themselves after being followed home last night.

Its bothering me greatly because I have to make the same journey tonight and well....yeah. It's just rattled me and I don't really know what I should have done, what I can do tonight and in the longer term

[jen_uk]

Do you mean that a man followed you home last night? Did you call the police?

[saratogagirl]

as Jen says did you contact the police - big hugs to you

[kkymmy]

im not even entirely sure it was a man, didn't want to look too much but i dont think he could have been any older than maybe 15 or 16, probably doing it for the kicks....not that I got a kick out of it. He didn't try and talk to me or do anything to me....he might not have even been following me for the sake of following me, he was just a few paces behind me all the way home and put the fear in me....just seems a bit odd thats all, considering where i live and stuff...but i get paranoid about these things. After an incident a few years ago im sometimes over suspicious of people, especially people walking behind me

[Booknut]

....very very small and not 100% sure of themselves after being followed home last night.

Its bothering me greatly because I have to make the same journey tonight and well....yeah. It's just rattled me and I don't really know what I should have done, what I can do tonight and in the longer term


I think you need to speak to the police about it if it happens again.

Try taking a different route home if you can or a taxi to your door. If possible have someone come meet you at the station/bus stop if you commute. Maybe even keep a camera in your bag and get a shot of this person if it continues (from a safe distance).

It might not be serious, it could just be some idiot with nothing better to do that day. But better safe than sorry. Definitely tell people and jot down the times you see this person and what they were wearing, times etc.

I hope your journey home is ok tonight and that this was just a one time thing. :grouphug:

[momof2minnies]

This happened to a group of us girls when we were teenagers and I drove straight to the police station here in town- needless to say he left us at that point!

[Boo Boo Too]

....very very small and not 100% sure of themselves after being followed home last night.

Its bothering me greatly because I have to make the same journey tonight and well....yeah. It's just rattled me and I don't really know what I should have done, what I can do tonight and in the longer term

Have had that happen to me (quite a few years ago) - rather frightening at the time :(.

What is your route like? Well lit? Other people around?

One of the big tips to people who walk/jog/run is to vary their route - don't be predictable...

If you can:
- get a lift home tonight with someone,
- see if someone is walking the same way as you (in a group you are less vulnerable),
- DEFINITELY pick a well-lit route which has quite a lot of other foot and vehicle traffic,
- use a different route to the one yoou used last night.
- wear sensible shoes that you could run in (if you felt the need).

If I am worried about the possibility of someone following me, I will often cross over the road and or speed up for a few metres (just to put some distance between them and me).

Maybe look at getting a personal alarm (to keep in your pocket) just for extra peace of mind...

If you think that someone is following you, it is also a good idea to get a good look at them and give their description to the police: not only for your peace of mind and safety, but also for others he may follow...

Best Wishes,
Boo

[kkymmy]

I think you need to speak to the police about it if it happens again.

Try taking a different route home if you can or a taxi to your door. If possible have someone come meet you at the station/bus stop if you commute. Maybe even keep a camera in your bag and get a shot of this person if it continues (from a safe distance).

It might not be serious, it could just be some idiot with nothing better to do that day. But better safe than sorry. Definitely tell people and jot down the times you see this person and what they were wearing, times etc.

I hope your journey home is ok tonight and that this was just a one time thing. :grouphug:

thanks, with it being liverpool i can easily imagine it being some kid whos passing time on the last week of their summer holidays but even so its just not very considerate

[carolfoy]

keep your mobile unlocked and pretend you're talking on it, at least then its very handy if you are threatened in any way. So sorry you felt awful, big hugs to you :grouphug:

[kkymmy]

thanks all for your advice.....my route is ok at the minute because its still light when i get back. but theres a lot of parkland (i walk past a park that can be cut through, although i never do, theres a field behind that park, the biggest green space in liverpool is at the end of my road and our buildings are set in substantial grounds).

I've just contacted my mate Sam who lives the other side of the duck pond to see if she'll come and walk down to the bus stop and meet me but there really isn't an alternative route (except the park which i just refuse to do).

thanks again for the reassurance

[Boo Boo Too]

im not even entirely sure it was a man, didn't want to look too much but i dont think he could have been any older than maybe 15 or 16, probably doing it for the kicks....not that I got a kick out of it. He didn't try and talk to me or do anything to me....he might not have even been following me for the sake of following me, he was just a few paces behind me all the way home and put the fear in me....just seems a bit odd thats all, considering where i live and stuff...but i get paranoid about these things. After an incident a few years ago im sometimes over suspicious of people, especially people walking behind me

Agree that it is was probably someone doing it for kicks and nothing more serious. Some people are evil little.... BUT, as you realise, it is better to treat it seriously... Even if he is not doing it seriously now, it could escalate and he could actually hurt someone.

Few people are THAT ignorant, that they don't give someone "personal space" - most people know if they are invading your space and making you feel uncomfortable...

As I said in my last post, the first thing to do if you feel that someone may be following you is to speed up and cross the road if you can (for no reason BUT to put space between you). Ok, by coincidence, they may want to cross the road at the same time... if they do, cross the road back again - if they follow you back across the road, then there is no doubt that they are following you.

The alternative, if you pass a shop/cafe/restaurnt that is open, is to dive in there. When you come out, take an alternative way home (don't continue in the way that you were headed).

Boo

[Boo Boo Too]

I've just contacted my mate Sam who lives the other side of the duck pond to see if she'll come and walk down to the bus stop and meet me but there really isn't an alternative route (except the park which i just refuse to do).

Kepe thinking about alternative routes - even if it is longer, might be worth just "mixing it up" a bit (agree, though, don't cut through the park...).

The other thing is to also mix up the time that you walk home - easier said than done. I know...

The mobile phone idea is excellent and would also look at a personal alarm too - just for extra peace-of-mind.

If you see him again, definitely get a GOOD description of him.

Am sure that everything is fine, just want you to look after yourself.

Boo

[mandymouse]

:grouphug: Big hugs to you, it is so unnerving when you think someone is following you.

I agree with everyone on here, get yourself a personal alarm and I like the mobile phone idea too.

I hope they're not around tonight

Take care

Mandy

[stevechase]

absolutely DO NOT walk tonight, either dont go, get a lift door to door or taxi. The last thing your family will want to be hearing is "If only she had had a lift"

Be careful for gods sake

Steve

[Minniespal]

Glad that you have someone who can walk with you. I'm sure that it was just a one off and that everything will be fine tonight :grouphug:

[wils]

:grouphug: I hope that you don't feel bothered tonight

[Spook]

please let us know that you are okay

Jan

[Lizzybear]

Where abouts in Liverpool do you live hon? If you don't mind me asking.
I used to live in the Hope halls in Aigburth and a girl got raped nearby (it's terribly badly lit and loads of bushes lining the road.. Not a good place to be alone at night!) It definitely put the frighteners on me *** I used to walk alone at night loads. I drive pretty much everywhere now (didn't have a car til last summer though) but if I couldn't I would try and avoid walking alone at night except in very public areas. I'm glad you've arranged someone to meet you, better safe than sorry!

[KayleeUK]

Hope you were OK tonight :)

[Nubbedy]

Hope everything went OK.

Sara. :)

[kkymmy]

Hi everyone,
thank you so much for your hugs and advice....it was OK last night...obviously i was a bit more over cautious than I normally would be but I got home and that's the main thing.

LizzyBear....I live in Mossley Hill at the university's Greenbank Halls, right on the edge of Sefton Park. Lovely area, but far too much potential for unwelcome attention, so much greenery.

[Minniespal]

Glad everything was ok for you last night :grouphug:

[Lizzybear]

Hi everyone,
thank you so much for your hugs and advice....it was OK last night...obviously i was a bit more over cautious than I normally would be but I got home and that's the main thing.

LizzyBear....I live in Mossley Hill at the university's Greenbank Halls, right on the edge of Sefton Park. Lovely area, but far too much potential for unwelcome attention, so much greenery.

Ohh yeah I know where you mean, used to pass it on the 61 bus to uni. I live in West Derby now (near Alder Hey) which is near some not so good areas but where I am is OK.

[kkymmy]

im moving to the ever lovely edge hill tomorrow.....well, the nice end anyway, right behind the uni campus and the womens hospital.....pure convenience and no buses to uni every day!!

I'm not familiar with anywhere except Wavertree, Mossley Hill and the City Centre....although i've got loads of mates living in Kensington this year