Ladies, would this scare you?

[honeywolf7]

I parked my car in the parking garage on Saturday before going to a meeting at school. I then walked up to a 7-11 and as I was walking out of the 7-11 someone beeped at me and motioned me over to his car. I didn't know him so I walked back towards the entrance of the 7-11. When I thought he'd been gone long enough for me to be safe, I came back out and started walking where I was originally going. It turned out that he had turned his car around and was following me. He asked me if I needed a ride and I said no and then he asked me if I was sure. This has me kind of freaked out about being outside my school during dusk/after dark (and by the way, I wasn't dressed like I wanted to be picked up or anything. I was wearing a sweater, an ankle-length black knit skirt, a pair of boots and an old denim jacket.) Would anybody else be worried after this or am I overreacting (it's not the first time that a man has tried to offer me a ride at that time of night, but it's the first time anyone was so persistent.)

 

[TLinden16]

I would definitely be concerned about it. Is the school garage in a safe area? Do they offer any escorts to and from the garage to the classroom buildings after dark? Be careful.

Karen

 

[honeywolf7]

They do "offer escorts" but the problem is that a lot of times they don't even show up so I've gotten to the point where I don't bother calling anymore.

 

[mad4themouse]

Yes it would have freaked me out and I probably would have headed in the opposite direction that his car was pointed! Then I would have gotten on my cellphone, called 911 and given them a description of the car, the creep and his license number. There are too many weirdos out there. You're justified to be scared. I'm glad you followed your instincts.

 

[FreshTressa]

Definately scary!!

 

[honeywolf7]

mad4themouse, I tried that first and he turned around. I didn't know if there was anything illegal about what he did so I didn't call the police.

 

[preshi]

I think if someone was following me while I was walking in a CAR I would go back in the store.

One time when I was in Long Beach there was only street parking in front of our friends house. I was walking a bit of the ways down the street to my car to get something when a white van pulled up next to me, the sliding van door opened and 3 men asked if I needed a ride. I turned right back around and ran to the house. I'm also very tahnkful there was a buffer of cars on the street and the sidewalk between us. It was WAY too scary and we read the next day or so that there were kidnappings in the area involving a white van.


I NEVER EVER would just keep walking to my car...that is way too dangerous. Doesn't matter what you look like or dress like, predators are predators.

Maybe I sound paranoid but beign a cops daughter one never can be too cautious. Esp. these days.

 

[honeywolf7]

Preshi, that's what I ended up doing although I'm sure the clerks in the store thought I was nuts for coming right back in. I left when I thought that he would be far enough gone but he wasn't b/c he had turned around.

 

[cindysteve]

You did the right thing walking back into the 7-11. I would have had my red flags up too. If it feels suspicious, then it probably is. Did you report it to anyone or catch his plate number? If something like this ever happens call the school security/local police and report the suspicious activity and have them escort you back to your car. Always try and get the plate number. He might try and bother another person in the area.

 

[honeywolf7]

Part of it (to be honest) was my not wanting to overreact in case he was just trying to be nice....Otherwise, I probably would have called school security and gotten a plate and all of that.

 

[SugarBear]

I certainly wouldn't have spoken to him.

 

[cindysteve]

People trying to be nice rarely turn around and be so persistant.

 

[honeywolf7]

That's probably true, cindysteve...If it ever happens again (or if I see his car again...it had out of state plates and was an old, beat-up looking car), I'll definitely report it.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
That's probably true, cindysteve...If it ever happens again (or if I see his car again...it had out of state plates and was an old, beat-up looking car), I'll definitely report it.

I think the time to report it was at the time it happened. If it happens again, by all means get the plate and file the report - they can issue a BOLO on the suspect, and perhaps pull him over for busted tail lights or something else.

But I think you'll be wasting your time if you see the car driving around and then report him for something that happened days or weeks earlier. I'm sure that TJ can explain to you that police officers have many important duties involving real-time complaints and issues. To report someone for something that happened days or weeks ago would most likely not be placed at the top of the LE blotter.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Why would you NOT call the cops? You felt threatened enough to come here and ask 50 thousand or so strangers if they would be creeped out, but you wouldn't call 911 and tell them a man was acosting you outside a college parking lot? You may not have accepted his ride, but what if someone else already did and harm has come to her? For being so interested in the law and law enforcement, you showed a remarkable lack of judgement. "I didn't know if there was anything illegal about what he did so I didn't call the police." He turned around and followed you, in this day and age, that is ewnough for you to call.

 

[honeywolf7]

AFR, I've taken a Policing class so I know that police officers definitely have important real-time duties (although I wouldn't call the Richmond cops....since it happened on campus, I'd call the campus cops who don't do nearly as much.) I just thought it might protect someone else if they at least had the license plate on file (but like I said, at the time I didn't think it was illegal and didn't want to overreact...now that I've had time to think about it and am still a little freaked out by it, I realize I should have reported it at the time.) Mickeyfan, I didn't call the cops because he didn't break a law and I knew enough from my Criminal Justice classes to know that what he did was not against the law...that doesn't mean that I don't wish I'd done so now.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Believe me, they won't give a crap about some guy asking a grown woman if she wants a ride.

 

[castlegazer]

I just think about the type of person who has the gall to do this - meaning just roll down the window and try and pick someone up on the street. Anyone who does this is scarry in my opinion.

I was a lifeguard for many years and after work one day I had this happen to me and I walked into a fast food restaurant to get out of the open for a little while until they left - I told the manager of the store why I was in there so that, God forbid I left and anything did happen to me, I would have talked to someone prior and notified them that there was something scarry going on. In this instance the manager was great and gave me a cup of hot water for tea to give me something to do while waiting it out for a bit.

I also have had people follow me in their cars when I am in my car (man, I am starting to sound wierd here - but stuff like this did seem to happen to me), and in those instances I have driven anywhere where there is lots of lights and activity and definately not to my house.

Moral of the story is - there are some very scarry and wierd people out there - and my moral is that I am so glad I am now an old married woman/mommy who doesn't seem to attract this type of unwanted attention anymore - now that is seeing the silver lining of getting older

 

[monkeyboy]

That is scary


Do you carry mace, or pepper spray?

If you know anyone in law enforcement, maybe they can help you get a 'carry permit'.

 

[honeywolf7]

Actually, dcgrumpy, I think you're wrong about that (at least with the campus police...I might agree if it was the city cops.)
Castlegazer, I'm 27 so I would think that I'm past those days, too...Unfortunately most people assume both by looking at me and by the fact that I'm in college that I'm more like 22 or 23.
Monkeyboy, I'm not sure if we need a "carry permit" in Richmond or not. I do always carry my keys in my hand, points of the keys outwards so that I can use them to cut someone if I need to.