Kinda creepy. A truck followed me home from dog class.

[Critters2]

On the way home from dog class tonight, I looked in the rearview mirror and realized this pickup truck was REALLY tailgating. I figured I wasn't going fast enough to suit him, so I turned down a little-traveled side street, so he could keep going on the more main street. Instead, he turned down the side street, too. Because that took me a bit out of my way, I had to make a couple of odd turns to get home, and he followed me around each corner, which began to seem odd. I finally turned down the alley where my garage is and kind of off to the side. He pulled up alongside me and honked a couple of times, then drove on down the alley.

I was kind of creeped out, so I sat there for a couple of minutes, and then drove around the block to make sure he was gone before I got out of my car.

Does this seem creepy to you, or have I just been a woman living alone in this culture too long?

[LeftyMom]

1. No, it's definitely creepy.

If it happens again, try to remember to drive to the PD or at least a well-lit public place with a lot of people, like a grocery store.

[Critters2]

3. You're right. I should've thought of that. I will, if it happens again.

Thanks, LM.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear mycritters2...

Definitely creepy...

If it happens again, DO NOT GO HOME!

Drive to a police station!

[Critters2]

5. Yep! That's what I should've done. I will next time--which I'm hoping there won't be!

Thanks, Peggy!

[BrklynLiberal]

28. Exactly what I was going to suggest... Absolutely.

[datasuspect]

4. did you make any movements that suggested that was where you lived?

they might have been casing you out.

or they could have been going in the same direction without any ill intent.

[Catch22Dem]

7. She drove to her house

Which probably is a pretty good indication of where she lived. ;)

[datasuspect]

9. they don't necessarily know that

unless mycritters inadvertently opened a garage door or pulled into a parking space or anything seemingly innocuous that criminals can read and decipher like clues about people's behavior or the extent to which they show weakness.

[Critters2]

10. Yeah, I'm not the smartest crime fighter this side of McGruff. nt

[Critters2]

8. I kept telling myself they were just going in the same direction, but turning down the alley...

there are only two small church parking lots and three garages down my alley.They didn't stop in any of them, and I didn't recognised the truck So, when they turned down the alley was when I thought it was odd.

So, I don't know what was going on.

[Catch22Dem]

6. Do you have a low tire or missing gas cap or anything odd?

Something that the driver may have been trying to get your attention about?

One time, I left my parents' house and turned onto the main road. I got behind this car. My house is over half an hour away and in the country (parents are near downtown) yet I followed this car all the way to MY STREET!!! They must have been really freaked out.

[Critters2]

13. Not that I know of. but I'll check tomorrow. Thanks.

And yeah, it is creepy when someone follows every turn you make for some distance.

[Kali]

15. or headlights on/off

probably just cut in front of him or pissed him off in some way the honking seems to be the key - if it was somebody stalking they would probably be less "visible"

[Critters2]

19. Yeah, the honking even made me wonder if it might be someone I know.

But I don't know anyone here with one of those big-ass pickup trucks. In Iowa, yeah, but no one here.

I'm sure my lights were on, because it's wicked dark here tonight--cloudy and pouring rain.

It may just be a mystery. So far, no harm done.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. There was a serial rapist/murderer in the DC area for awhile who used that ploy...

He made women think there was something wrong with their cars, and when they pulled over, he'd abduct, assault, and murder them. My mom thought she might have encountered him one night, but she ignored him when he tried to get her to pull over...thank goodness!

[arcadian]

11. You might have cut the guy off or something.

And that was his way of "getting back" at you. Creepy most definitely. I once had some crazy driver slamming on their brakes right in front of me going 65 mph down the interstate. I would change lanes and they would continue to change lanes and stay in front of me slamming on their brakes every 2 minutes or so. I nearly rear-ended the guy going 65 several times, I couldn't figure out why the fuck he was doing it. The only thing I could think of was that I cut him off with out realizing it. It ended when I basically braked down to 20 mph on the interstate so as not to slam into him. People are fucking stupid dangerous creatures.

[ThomCat]

12. Definitely creepy.

There are guys who get their kicks by obviously following a woman to see how badly they can make her freak out. It's an excercise of power.

There are also guys who will take this further and to see if they can trap a woman, or incapacitate her. And I'm sure you can imagine how far that can go.

I've known redneck guy I grew up who would have a real good laugh about situations like that. :(

Please be careful. Take situations like that seriously. Drive to a crowded parking lot, or even better, to a police station or fire department where there are people outside.

:hug:

I don't ever want to hear that anything happened to you.

[Critters2]

16. Thanks, Thom. I really think it may have been intended to freak me out.

It was one of those really big-ass pickups, with the big tires and racing stripes and all. I think it was probably some redneck letting me--or other rednecks in the truck--know what a man he was. And yes, if it happens again, I'll drive to the police station. I'm only about 2 or 3 blocks from it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Very creepy...

It's best not to drive home when someone's following you like that...Then they know where you live.
Drive to the nearest police station if possible. That'll make 'em think a bit.

[Critters2]

18. Yeah, that's what I should've done. I will if it happens again. nt

[Connonym]

20. do you have political bumper stickers or anything on your car that might have pissed them off?

Regardless of the reason, scary. Please be extra cautious. Perhaps you should also write down all the details while they're still fresh in your mind (the car, what the guy looked like, etc). :hug: You're not home alone tonight are you?

[Critters2]

23. I have three bumper stickers--an Obama 08 magnetic oval, a sticker that says

"This car's co2 offset by Terrapass.com", and one that says "I love my beagle". And a pet-friendly license plate. These don't seem too controversial, but ya never know.

And, yeah, I'm home alone. But nothing's happened since then. I'm about to go to bed. The beagle would bark at the slightest sound. so I feel pretty safe.

[flvegan]

21. If I think I'm being followed

which is surprisingly common (few times a year) I run a route I've planned in advance. Always best if within a couple miles of your home you have a shock route where you can determine if you are indeed being tailed. On that route, should be a very public place you can park for 20 minutes while the tail disperses or the cops show up.

Never lead anyone to your neighborhood. I swear, if I were a woman, I'd have a concealed carry permit. I'm no gun nut, but I'd also choose to not be predated.

[Critters2]

24. I live about 2 blocks from the police station. If this happens again, I'll go there.

Also, and this just occurred to me, there's a sheriff's deputy who lives across the street. So, I should be pretty safe. I forget that this neighbor is a deputy, because I just think of him as a neighbor--and a guy with a really cute Jack Russell.

But yeah, if it happens again, I'll drive to the cop station.

It happens to you a lot, huh? :scared:

[flvegan]

26. Happens to me a lot?

Just enough, unfortunately.

[Lil Missy]

22. I had that happen to me over a merging intersection many years ago.

I pulled away to avoid us clocking each other in traffic, and had to go to the next exit to get home. That fucker followed me after that, and I quickly switched lanes into the next exit.

That fucker stopped on the Interstate, and backed up to follow my exit. I decided to just pull over, because I didn't want to stop anywhere near my house. He was right behind me, and I had no means of escape.

So his car came screeching up behind me, and he stormed out of his car to "talk" to me. In my rear view mirror, it looked like he leaned over to grab a gun, or bring some kind of weapon with him. So I had one foot on the clutch and the other on the gas peddle, in case I needed to escape quickly.

I immediately told him I was sorry if our almost accident was my fault, and asked him if he was okay. He melted completely, held his weapon behind his back, and apologized profusely.

He thought I was a guy that he felt wanted to kill him. But when he found out I was a female, he apologized profusely. And put that weapon away, whatever it was.

Whew!

[Critters2]

25. Now THAT is a scary story!! I'm glad he decided not to use that weapon!! nt

[Book Lover]

27. Just one tangential point

You also had a weapon - your car.

[Lil Missy]

30. Which did me no good since he was at my passenger side window.

I had my feet ready to goose the gas pedal to escape!

He really did scare the CRAP outta me! Talk about road rage. Sheesh!

[CreekDog]

29. Dog class does sound a bit odd

:rofl:

[likesmountains 52]

31. Someone else told me about this idea...go to the thrift store and buy a few pairs of

men's boots and shoes. Then every few nights put a different pair (muddy is good if it makes sense with the weather) on your doorstep..

[cwydro]

32. Do you have any political bumperstickers on your car?

Some real weirdos out there.

I agree with the other advice here...do not go home, drive to the PD.