Man followed my car into garage last night!

[OceanAnnie]

I wonder if this is grounds to get a restraining order on him. I'd certainly try! Also, definitely make a formal complaint to the place he works.

We live in a very nice neighborhood. My neighbor down the street came home one night then rolled the garbage can out. A car pulled up with 2 guys who aimed a gun at him and stole his wallet. He and his wife had just come home from dinner out and they think he was followed from the restaurant.

You can't be too careful. Glad you were okay.

I would consider that too.

Everything you wrote about that guy was off. Strangers just don't follow people into their property like that. Hidden then silent approach. Interesting choice of words when he said, "You" were gone all day. Not, "there was no one home all day". Bad enough he was watching your house all day, but he was noticing "your" absence. Creepy.

His response to your demand of him to leave was odd too. Standing his ground. Laughing. Walking away. All very strange. Do you have predictable periods when your DH is away? It's unsettling that he didn't have any panic in him that someone would hear you or that your DH would soon be home.

How was he dressed? Did he look like he was employed? Was he disheveled? Groomed?

If it were me, I'd alert my neighbors about this guy. It could benefit them because he could be casing others in the neighborhood, and they could keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Mainly, they could keep an eye out for you.

I carry a small canister of mace. I've never used it. But I feel better having it. I have put my hand on it when I was feeling trepidation. I do squirt it once in a blue moon to be sure it still works. I'm thinking about getting a small travel sized bottle of hair spray too. It would have the same effect of buying time (and it could serve more than one purpose).

You should be proud of yourself. You did very well. Don't let your guard down though. Cover your bases. I hope the police gives you a follow up on the guy. If not, call them to find out.

 

[bumbershoot]

So terrifying! But as others have said, you should really be proud of yourself. You KNEW that something was off, you didn't back down for sake of not being embarrassed if he proved to be not creepy, you told him what you expected him to do, and you called 911. I bet the police were really happy with your responses!

Your cell phone was probably the best thing in this case. No one pays attention to alarms/horns/etc because there have been so many false alarms with those things. Pepper spray and similar can harm you just as easily as an assailant.

Pepper spray would absolutely have hurt the OP if she'd sprayed it in her garage. I've been in a 2 story house when someone accidentally spritzed it (while saying "what is this?"). We had to clear out for HOURS, and we were all in pain for a good amount of time. You want to be in the open, and able to get away quickly, if you use that stuff.

I'm glad you are okay. I would have been scared out of my mind., I would have got back in my car and left.

Probably a good choice as well, IMO, I agree!

The only time I think someone was actually following me was when I was a teenager on my way home from work I stopped at a Wendys. Guys behind me didn't order anything and pulled out after me. I pointed my car in the direction of the police station (make sure you know how to get to the closest station!) and they turned off right before I hit the station.

The one time I was followed, I did the same thing. Only it was for real, b/c our offices were above the main police station in town, and I was on my way to work! He went away very quickly when he saw that I was parking right outside the police station.


OP I hope your nerves calm down soon!



ETA: whether the guy is a real cable co employee or not, I'd get in touch with the local cable offices. Because they either need to re-train him, or they need to be aware that someone is using their company in such a ruse, so they can make sure their people know how to behave and how NOT to freak people out and make the people think the real employees are fakes as well. Not sure if that made sense, but I'd talk to the local people, definitely.

 

[DisneyScraps]

OMG I got goosebumps reading that.

You know what I do to keep safe.....nothing. I never really thought about it much.I live in a nice neighborhood in a nice small southern town.

I understand what you meant about no one hearing you.

Thank God you are ok but I would tell each and every neighbor what happened because he might be back and someone else might not be as brave.

Lisa

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Thank God you are ok ! He was up to no good I am sure.
I know this is of no help to you because there was no one that you could see around but if you are ever in a situation that others can hear you for sure . Yell FIRE ! I swear before I married my DH I dated a police officer and he taught me that . One of my DD friends was being robbed in the parking garage at the mall and was yelling for help and no one came then she said she remembered what I told her about yelling FIRE . Yelled it and everyone looked . He was trying to shove her into her car when she thought of it . He already had her dang purse and he wanted her !

As for feeling safe I have a gun and a very large Rottie for home.

 

[Shutterbug]

Your story made me think of the family from here Ohio that were killed.
I am really glad you are okay. Definetly a scary situtation that even as a guy would have me looking over my shoulder.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm glad to hear you are ok. Did the police give you a case number? If they actually filed a report there will be a case number you can ask for, if they tell you there is no number they didn't do it. You can push for it and if I were you, I'd push because if there is ever another incident of any kind you then have a paper trail, otherwise it never happened.

I carry a can of tear gas in my purse and have a can in each car in the dash. It's legal in PA but when I was a teen clubbing in NYC I carried it with me too, and there it wasn't. Back then I figured I'd rather get in trouble for carrying it than get in trouble without it, lesser of 2 evils and all that. Thankfully I never used it but I would have zero hesitation to do so, I had friends who did end up using theirs

I've had a few close calls in life so I don't get out of my car until the garage door is safely shut behind me. Crazy can come from anywhere and we're rarely prepared for it when it comes knockin'

 

[SandrA9810]

I walked into a stranger in my apartment once. When I first started at Disney, I kept my dog in the kennel at DAK. I felt bad for having to be gone 12-14hrs a day or even longer. She was happy, I was happy with it.
Well I opened the door and she always had to bound in front of me. This time, she froze as she walked in. Kari was right behind me, and i turned my head to tell her, something isn't right. That's when a guy walked out of the bedroom.
Here's two young girls facing a middle aged man, and a dog hiding behind me. I asked him "what are you doing in our apartment?" his response was "this is my friends place."
It went on for a couple minutes, then i pulled my phone out to call the police. He ran back into the bedroom and jumped through the window.

There was no forced entry because he used the maintence keys to get into the place. But the complex nor the police did anything about it after that night.

We couldn't sleep there for 3 or 4 nights, stayed at a hotel near Disney and left the dog in the kennel. After that, we always left the dog at home. I doubt she'd ever do anything, but that sweet wolf like face sure did scare a lot of men.

It is unnerving and unsettling. But calling the cops right away was a smart thing to do.

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I have satellite and don't get local channels (so I'm not sure of the location-NY somewhere) that police had released a sketch of a guy who is mugging women in their own garages... This is crazy! I'm glad you're okay, and I hope they lock the crazy up!

 

[java]

Oh my goodness. I am shaking reading what you went through. Thank goodness you had your wits about you to use your cell phone. I am installing motion lights this weekend over the garage. It makes sense- even with out little neighborhood. That's an easy fix.

 

[hereyago]

I would consider that too.

Everything you wrote about that guy was off. Strangers just don't follow people into their property like that. Hidden then silent approach. Interesting choice of words when he said, "You" were gone all day. Not, "there was no one home all day". Bad enough he was watching your house all day, but he was noticing "your" absence. Creepy.

His response to your demand of him to leave was odd too. Standing his ground. Laughing. Walking away. All very strange. Do you have predictable periods when your DH is away? It's unsettling that he didn't have any panic in him that someone would hear you or that your DH would soon be home.

How was he dressed? Did he look like he was employed? Was he disheveled? Groomed?

If it were me, I'd alert my neighbors about this guy. It could benefit them because he could be casing others in the neighborhood, and they could keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Mainly, they could keep an eye out for you.

I carry a small canister of mace. I've never used it. But I feel better having it. I have put my hand on it when I was feeling trepidation. I do squirt it once in a blue moon to be sure it still works. I'm thinking about getting a small travel sized bottle of hair spray too. It would have the same effect of buying time (and it could serve more than one purpose).

You should be proud of yourself. You did very well. Don't let your guard down though. Cover your bases. I hope the police gives you a follow up on the guy. If not, call them to find out.

ITA. Now say if he were with the cable company, he would have said< i am blah blah with such and such instead of laughing at you. And as soon as you dialed 911 you think he would be running or saying I am with a cable company. I am full of crazy when I need to be and I would have got back in the car and backed out, he could change his name to Speedbump. OOps, officer, I didn't see a stranger in my garage, my bad.

Years ago I was in my car and had my windows down-the crank kind-but the doors locked. This guy walked up to the passenger side of the car and was going on about how this car looked like his friends,etc. Then he tried to open the door as he was saying i shouldn't have the doors unlocked. I whipped out my knife and he left.

 

[Terry36]

OMG... That is very scary! I'm so glad you are ok and the perp was caught.

What I do when I leave my garage at night is ensure I'm already in my locked vehicle before I open my garage door. I also stay in my vehicle upon returning home and wait until my garage door closes. I've been very careful to do this lately especially since my DH works late and I have to pick up my DD from practice late two nights a week.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

A few years ago I was assaulted by a man who tried to rape me in the space between our garage and the house. It was a horrifying experience that thank God I got over it. I saw him standing there and I approached him very naively thinking he was ill or something. Shortly after that my fiance' (now husband) bought me a small handgun and I took lessons so that I now have a concealed weapon permit. I live on a military base and there are strict rules about handguns so I don't carry it anymore, it's kept at my parent's house, but my husband is armed and also living on base makes me feel 100% safer than before. Thank God you're ok.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Thanks for the support guys!

Motion sensor lights are going up this weekend. Although the car will trigger that when I pull in...... I'm also going to be sitting and waiting for the door to close behind the car before I exit, while I watch in the mirror.

I'll shop around for a small air horn, too. Thats for my piece of mind, I don't think my screaming was very loud because I was trying tooo hard.

Yes, I heard on the police radio that they had the guy, and that he had ID for the cable company. I mentioned to "my policeman" that the creep needed education in how to approach customers and to learn that "LEAVE NOW!" means turn around and walk away, NOT consider that permission to continue to stand there, smiling & asking questions. eesch! Last I knew he was in the back of the police car, and the cops were not happy with him.

This guy seems like a creep and I don't think his company would be very happy with the way that he handled this at all. I would contact the BIG boss there and complain. And not a simple complaint either, I would let them have it. I would also contact the police dept and file a complaint against him. What he did was wrong in so many ways. That would have scared me to death.

 

[BC]

I haven't read the entire post, so if you have already answered this, I apologize. Just wondering what area of the country you are located in? I know it happens everywhere, really scary! It is one of my greatest fears. I leave early in the mornings for work, always dark, and I never walk out to my car that I don't think about it. Can't imagine what you must have felt. Pray for you to be able to put this episode to rest.

 

[mrsltg]

My DH has taught me not to turn off the car before the garage door closes. Our door has a motion sensor so if someone were to enter the garage in the meantime, the door would go right back up. As my car would still be on and in reverse, I would back right out - no questions asked. This advice is the same for any home alarm systems - don't disarm the alarm until you've looked around for a moment and assessed anything out of the ordinary. Even if it's just an off feeling, leave the home.

OP, I am so glad you are okay! This could have ended very badly and you definitely kept your wits about you. I wish you peace as you deal with this.

 

[Took]

My DH has taught me not to turn off the car before the garage door closes. Our door has a motion sensor so if someone were to enter the garage in the meantime, the door would go right back up. As my car would still be on and in reverse, I would back right out - no questions asked. This advice is the same for any home alarm systems - don't disarm the alarm until you've looked around for a moment and assessed anything out of the ordinary. Even if it's just an off feeling, leave the home.

OP, I am so glad you are okay! This could have ended very badly and you definitely kept your wits about you. I wish you peace as you deal with this.

I do this, too! And I am not, otherwise, much concerned with "safety." Something about a garage just makes me feel creepy....

 

[WDWMom]

Very creepy!!!!

I didn't read the whole thread but have heard to yell FIRE when you really need to get attention. People tend to come running for help at the word.

Not that this would have helped, but always told my dd if she thought she was being followed to never go home or get out of the car. Drive to the near police station or fire station and honk the horn for help. With cell phones now, call 911 as you are driving to said station.

I think I would have tried to get back in the car and lock the doors if you could. But calling 911 was the best thing you could have done.

 

[Jennasis]

People think I'm nuts, but I keep my door locked an deadbolted when I am home in the house. Not taking any chances.

 

[bellebud]

I back into my garage, and stay inside my car till the garage door closes. This way in the morning, when I leave, it also is safer to pull out forward.

 

[sbell111]

This thread is why I support concealed carry laws.