Response to someone following you

[Excaliber]

Here are a few more evasive / protective maneuvers you might consider in addition to the many already suggested:

1. Walk on the side of the street that has you facing traffic. It keeps a vehicle from slipping up behind you unnoticed.
2. If being followed on foot, cross to the other side of the street in the middle of a block. If the suspected tail follows you've got a 95% confirmation he's interested in you.
3. If followed on foot, move to the center of the street and walk on the lane divider lines (use judgment - this isn't a good idea on I45, I10, etc.) It makes you highly visible from all directions, is unusual enough to attract witness or police attention, and may be enough to get the tail to break off if the plans he has for you are better accomplished in areas hidden from general view.
4. In a residential neighborhood, simply walk up to the nearest house and either ring the doorbell or pretend to. This again changes the tactical situation because a tail will assume that the house holds family or friends who will come to your aid. If they are strangers, you can explain the situation and ask them to call police. (The pretend version of this tactic got me out of a following vehicle based robbery in NYC when I was in college.)
5. If on foot and followed by a vehicle, do things the vehicle can't:
- in a parking lot, move across lanes or off the pavement where there is a curb.
- move against the traffic in one way lanes with cars in them.

There are lots more things you can figure out on your own once you get the creative juices flowing and start thinking outside of the box. Think about them ahead of time so you have something to draw on when you're under threat and not thinking as quickly as you can at other times. Focus on doing unexpected things that are easy for you, and hard for a tail to adjust to quickly, to take advantage of his OODA loop. Only the most determined will go more than a round or two with you on these tactics unless the target focus on you is so specific only you will do (e.g. stalking situations).

I also favor challenge / warning tactics at about 25 feet. These quickly sort out intent. If you tell someone not to come any closer and he does so anyway, you've just established a pretty clear threat indicator that can be added to the other circumstances to help you decide on and justify an appropriate response.

[speedsix]

...a story...true...that happened to me and my wife...it worked...may be of some help in "reading" the follower...may not...

...snowstorm...all of 4"...ice...wife was at work about three blocks away...got off at 8:30...ice on the hill and my truck wouldn't make it up the hill to get her...left it parked against the curb and started walking...cold and light snow...called her and she wanted to start out and meet me...a bad cluster of duplexes between her work and home...I told her to wait...I'd come there and walk her home...it was easy to see for a long ways with the snow reflecting light...almost like moonlight...

...as we walked down the hill, she, being in much better shape, was in front of me on the left sidewalk...she kept gaining on me...was about 10 steps in front of me when I spotted two guys walking up the hill headed our way...they were early 20s, talking a lot to each other...about 75' away...I told her "slow down.wait for me"...she didn't, and I told her again, using "the Voice"...she slowed down, and I started gaining on her...they veered out of the tiretrack on the street straight towards her...I immediately stepped right enough they both could see me well, and jammed my hand under my coat to my .45...and kept it there...like I'd turned a light on, they cut left and across the street and passed us, still talking low, but walking faster...

...not a word was said, but I knew what they were up to...and they knew it was a bad plan...as I got up to her...she asked me what they were doing...I said "Later, keep walking"...

...we've had one shot in a street robbery up there...several strong-armed robberies...not that night...

[Superman]

I was followed one time that I can think of. I didn't recognize the vehicle, I was young and stupid. No weapons on me past a pocket knife. I took a couple of random turns with increasing speed and then as soon as I had some space spun my truck around flipped on the brights and drove back at the following vehicle. They stopped, I stopped, I got out and moved toward the other vehicle. Turns out it was my wife riding with a friend in a car I didn't know. Scared the stuffing out of them and then later me when I realized what could have happened had it been a BG. In the following years since that incident I've tried to know where the nearest police station is or what public area is nearest with a lot of people around.

Same thing with me. I've been followed once and it didn't turn out as nice as yours. Here's my story, with lesson learned at the end:

I too was young and stupid (first summer back home after my freshman year of college). It was my first week in town and my friend and I drove my car to a local restaurant where another friend was working. It was karaoke night and we left late (11:30pm-ish). There was a huge crowd in the parking lot and we heard a very loud motorcycle race out of the parking lot. My friend and I pulled out of the parking lot and I spun my back tires in some standing water (had a nice mustang back then). We noticed we were being followed by a white ford explorer and we both wondered if it was someone that recognized my car and wanted to see me (since it was my first week back in town). We didn't want to drive all the way to my friends house so we pulled over in the neighborhood a few blocks away. The car pulled up and parked right behind us. We rolled down our windows and waved out the window...nothing. So...(the completely stupid part)...we both got out of the car. He then saw we were a few skinny kids and then the tough angry man got out of his car and started walking towards us. In my ignorance, I said cheerfully "Hi!" and he just walked up and pinned me to my car and proceeded to chew me out for making so much noise that he and his family couldn't sleep. He apparently lived near the restaurant and was kept up by the large group in the parking lot with the loud motorcycles...and he saw me pull out and "spin my tires", so he blamed everything on me. I won't go into exactly everything that happened, but people were coming out of their houses (although no one decided to step in and help). He talked his way into me knowing who he is (he took my wallet and asked where I went to school and told me his son went there and I knew him). We parted with no real damage done, but he was verbal and physical. I dropped off my friend at his house, went home and told my parents, called the cops and pressed charges. I had to testify in court and he was convicted guilty and had to do anger management and therapy and all kinds of stuff. Never saw him again.

After playing that scenario in my mind for years past (still do to be honest), I would have driven somewhere that's well lit and preferably has security cameras (like pretty much any gas station). That way at least everything is caught on camera. And of course called 911 to get an officer on the way...even if I have to apologize later for wasting their time.

Anyway, sorry if I'm hijacking the thread, but that's what I will do in the future...in vehicle or not. Go straight for a well populated, well lit area and preferably somewhere with security cameras (again, gas stations are usually great places for that).

I also think about how the outcome would have been different if I had a CHL back then...how it would have been different (for good or bad). The way it ended, no one died or really got hurt too bad...but if the exact same thing were to happen in a few weeks when I finally have my plastic and will be carrying, I have to say the outcome would be quite a bit more tragic, because I wouldn't have let it get that far

[Excaliber]

I was followed one time that I can think of. I didn't recognize the vehicle, I was young and stupid. No weapons on me past a pocket knife. I took a couple of random turns with increasing speed and then as soon as I had some space spun my truck around flipped on the brights and drove back at the following vehicle. They stopped, I stopped, I got out and moved toward the other vehicle. Turns out it was my wife riding with a friend in a car I didn't know. Scared the stuffing out of them and then later me when I realized what could have happened had it been a BG. In the following years since that incident I've tried to know where the nearest police station is or what public area is nearest with a lot of people around.

Same thing with me. I've been followed once and it didn't turn out as nice as yours. Here's my story, with lesson learned at the end:

I too was young and stupid (first summer back home after my freshman year of college). It was my first week in town and my friend and I drove my car to a local restaurant where another friend was working. It was karaoke night and we left late (11:30pm-ish). There was a huge crowd in the parking lot and we heard a very loud motorcycle race out of the parking lot. My friend and I pulled out of the parking lot and I spun my back tires in some standing water (had a nice mustang back then). We noticed we were being followed by a white ford explorer and we both wondered if it was someone that recognized my car and wanted to see me (since it was my first week back in town). We didn't want to drive all the way to my friends house so we pulled over in the neighborhood a few blocks away. The car pulled up and parked right behind us. We rolled down our windows and waved out the window...nothing. So...(the completely stupid part)...we both got out of the car. He then saw we were a few skinny kids and then the tough angry man got out of his car and started walking towards us. In my ignorance, I said cheerfully "Hi!" and he just walked up and pinned me to my car and proceeded to chew me out for making so much noise that he and his family couldn't sleep. He apparently lived near the restaurant and was kept up by the large group in the parking lot with the loud motorcycles...and he saw me pull out and "spin my tires", so he blamed everything on me. I won't go into exactly everything that happened, but people were coming out of their houses (although no one decided to step in and help). He talked his way into me knowing who he is (he took my wallet and asked where I went to school and told me his son went there and I knew him). We parted with no real damage done, but he was verbal and physical. I dropped off my friend at his house, went home and told my parents, called the cops and pressed charges. I had to testify in court and he was convicted guilty and had to do anger management and therapy and all kinds of stuff. Never saw him again.

After playing that scenario in my mind for years past (still do to be honest), I would have driven somewhere that's well lit and preferably has security cameras (like pretty much any gas station). That way at least everything is caught on camera. And of course called 911 to get an officer on the way...even if I have to apologize later for wasting their time.

Anyway, sorry if I'm hijacking the thread, but that's what I will do in the future...in vehicle or not. Go straight for a well populated, well lit area and preferably somewhere with security cameras (again, gas stations are usually great places for that).

I also think about how the outcome would have been different if I had a CHL back then...how it would have been different (for good or bad). The way it ended, no one died or really got hurt too bad...but if the exact same thing were to happen in a few weeks when I finally have my plastic and will be carrying, I have to say the outcome would be quite a bit more tragic, because I wouldn't have let it get that far

You may want to reassess your strategy.

Security cameras don't prevent crime - they just record it.

You can see that for yourself by watching the crimes caught on camera on the news almost any day of the week.

If you're in trouble, go someplace where there are people who will help - e.g. a police station. Your GPS has a feature that will take you right to the closest one.

[Superman]

You may want to reassess your strategy.

Security cameras don't prevent crime - they just record it.

You can see that for yourself by watching the crimes caught on camera on the news almost any day of the week.

If you're in trouble, go someplace where there are people who will help - e.g. a police station. Your GPS has a feature that will take you right to the closest one.

I'm fairly comfortable with my strategy. In theory, your police station strategy is great (under pretty perfect circumstances), but in practicality, it doesn't work out in a lot of situations. First, that means I need a GPS in order to find a police station, which not everyone has (I only recently got it on my phone only about a year ago...no in-car GPS though). Police stations are harder to get to, there's only one, maybe a few in an entire city and it could be VERY far away...so really only practical if you are in your vehicle, not as a pedestrian.

Gas stations in contrast, are relatively everywhere. I don't need a complicated electronic device (that can and does fail) in order to get to one. When I get there, I have three fairly good *deterrents* that the assailant will hopefully think about (and that I will bring up to remind them). One, having "onlookers" (witnesses) means most people will avoid making a scene, especially if the actions are illegal. You can even call out one of them to call 911 for you, leaving you to focus on the situation. Two, being in a well lit area means everything is more clear for you and also a deterrent for the same reason as #1. Three, having security cameras capture everything that goes on is not only a huge deterrent (if they are about to do something illegal, they don't want to get caught on tape), but it is also to protect yourself as it can be used as evidence for you in the aftermath. It's more for your protection in the aftermath, but it is a preventative deterrent, even if some BG's will disregard it...I'd rather have any deterrent than none. I'd choose having a security camera capture everything rather than not.

The cop that took my statements after the incident suggested the gas station idea and went over all this with me. Granted, that was way before smart phones and GPS and all that, but I think it's still very valid. I agree that the police station is the ideal plan, but in the heat of the moment, I'm preparing for the closest location that meets the most of my three criteria...which doesn't have to be a gas station and could very well be the police station, but the gas station has a higher probability of working out in a random stalker / follower situation.

[tbrown]

Also, some police stations aren't open 24x7.

[Excaliber]

You may want to reassess your strategy.

Security cameras don't prevent crime - they just record it.

You can see that for yourself by watching the crimes caught on camera on the news almost any day of the week.

If you're in trouble, go someplace where there are people who will help - e.g. a police station. Your GPS has a feature that will take you right to the closest one.

I'm fairly comfortable with my strategy. In theory, your police station strategy is great (under pretty perfect circumstances), but in practicality, it doesn't work out in a lot of situations. First, that means I need a GPS in order to find a police station, which not everyone has (I only recently got it on my phone only about a year ago...no in-car GPS though). Police stations are harder to get to, there's only one, maybe a few in an entire city and it could be VERY far away...so really only practical if you are in your vehicle, not as a pedestrian.

Gas stations in contrast, are relatively everywhere. I don't need a complicated electronic device (that can and does fail) in order to get to one. When I get there, I have three fairly good *deterrents* that the assailant will hopefully think about (and that I will bring up to remind them). One, having "onlookers" (witnesses) means most people will avoid making a scene, especially if the actions are illegal. You can even call out one of them to call 911 for you, leaving you to focus on the situation. Two, being in a well lit area means everything is more clear for you and also a deterrent for the same reason as #1. Three, having security cameras capture everything that goes on is not only a huge deterrent (if they are about to do something illegal, they don't want to get caught on tape), but it is also to protect yourself as it can be used as evidence for you in the aftermath. It's more for your protection in the aftermath, but it is a preventative deterrent, even if some BG's will disregard it...I'd rather have any deterrent than none. I'd choose having a security camera capture everything rather than not.

The cop that took my statements after the incident suggested the gas station idea and went over all this with me. Granted, that was way before smart phones and GPS and all that, but I think it's still very valid. I agree that the police station is the ideal plan, but in the heat of the moment, I'm preparing for the closest location that meets the most of my three criteria...which doesn't have to be a gas station and could very well be the police station, but the gas station has a higher probability of working out in a random stalker / follower situation.

A well lighted gas station is better than nothing, but don't overestimate the presumed value of deterrence through fear of prosecution. The real bad guys aren't worried about endangering their law licenses with an arrest, and their long range planning goes out about as far as lunch. Anything that might happen later than that doesn't figure into their decisions at all. If they get arrested, they get to go to jail where it's old home week with lots of their buds who are in there too. It's not something they live in fear of.

There's also the consideration that in some neighborhoods the gas station is where the predators hang out. The help they'd provide would likely go to the guy who's been following you.

Relying on the presence of cameras to save you is likely to lead to disappointment. If you doubt that, you can watch lots of video taken by cameras that didn't deter crime on the news just about any evening of the week. The things that happened to the victims often aren't pretty.

[Superman]

There's also the consideration that in some neighborhoods the gas station is where the predators hang out. The help they'd provide would likely go to the guy who's been following you.

Haha...very true! I'd probably be staying away from those neighborhoods anyway, or only go if I really had to and only be passing through

Relying on the presence of cameras to save you is likely to lead to disappointment. If you doubt that, you can watch lots of video taken by cameras that didn't deter crime on the news just about any evening of the week. The things that happened to the victims often aren't pretty.

Again, the primary reason for the cameras is to protect myself after the altercation when I need evidence to back up my side of the story. I want something my defender can show in court to the judge / jury...if it gets that far.

[03Lightningrocks]

I think every situation will be different. My first responsibility is to make sure I am being followed and not just going the same direction as some random person. Making weird turns and maneuvers will confirm this pretty quick. If I am being followed, I turn tactical and try to gain the advantage. I have never been the type to expect help from others. If they give it... Great... But I am not going to count on it. I will utilize my weapon... Since I have a CHL and can legally carry. It will be drawn and held down as not to be accused of brandishing and also as not to give up my ace card if some tard thinks I am about to be an easy mark. I am a good guy so my assumption in America is that only a bad guy with evil intentions is going to be following me around. Bad guys get no fair shake. I plan to live... If the bad guy must die for this to happen... Sux to be him.

Cops don't tail suspicious characters unless they already have word to watch the bad guy for drug dealing or something. A cop is going to hit his lights and tell me to stop from his bullhorn in the car. It's happened when I was younger. At my age.... Cops slow down... I wave... They drive on.... Getting older does have it'ts advantages.

[Excaliber]

There's also the consideration that in some neighborhoods the gas station is where the predators hang out. The help they'd provide would likely go to the guy who's been following you.

Haha...very true! I'd probably be staying away from those neighborhoods anyway, or only go if I really had to and only be passing through

Relying on the presence of cameras to save you is likely to lead to disappointment. If you doubt that, you can watch lots of video taken by cameras that didn't deter crime on the news just about any evening of the week. The things that happened to the victims often aren't pretty.

Again, the primary reason for the cameras is to protect myself after the altercation when I need evidence to back up my side of the story. I want something my defender can show in court to the judge / jury...if it gets that far.

This is a valid point with some hidden risks. Cameras, like witnesses, record the piece of the incident they see from their point of view, not the whole of what happened. This can either help or hurt a defender's case, even in a perfect justification situation.

[kjolly]

A long time ago I was headed to a friend's party at her house which I had never been to. noticed a car following so I made a multiple of turns to confirm I was being followed. Last turn proved to be a dead end street. The car turned after me. This was many years before concealed carry was passed. I hopped out of my truick and grabbed a tire iron from behind the seat. following car was some other people headed to the same party was also lost and reconized my truck. It was a very unnerving experience.

Another time I was walking back to car on campus and noticed someone following me. I started walking faster and they sped up also. I broke into a run with them also running right on my heels. Reached the car and got it open. They broke off the chase at this point.

Another incident. I worked closing at a drive-in movie theatre. Earlier in the evening I had stopped some gate crashers. When I was leaving they pulle dout after me and tried to run me off the road. I made it to a fire station and they broke off the chase.

Thank goodness for CHL nowadays.