Venting How to cope with being stalked?

[StupiderJuniper]

hi, i'm writing this post after a really scary encounter i had where a masked woman just stalked me for around 2 hours straight across my city. she would ride the same buses i did, get off the same stops, wait around stores i entered, and would always wait a small distance behind me whenever i stopped, faking being occupied on her phone. hell, i even went nonsensical directions and in loops to try and see if she would follow, and she did. i only managed to break contact with her after tricking her into thinking i went one direction, before i ran off to board the metro and get home. even after all that, i saw her in the distance, trying to get to me in time (she didn't). this isn't the first time i've been stalked, it first occurred with my family after i suddenly moved out. i am mortified that this is somehow a PI they hired. i just have no idea how to cope with this or where to go. i live in a dorm, so i'm guessing i could make a report to the security here, but i only have a few pictures to corroborate my story.

i feel lost right now, i was having a happy week and it was quickly sent right back down to absolute misery. i really need advice from anyone here, what could i potentially do? or just how do i live with this knowledge. i wasnt able to do anything today, but i can't stay like this forever.

 

[heywey]

That's super freaky, I'm so sorry it's happened to you. From the sound of it I think they were too conspicuous to be an actual PI, but I'm no expert. Well done getting home safe.


More likely than not this was some strange one-off, a random weirdo who got everything they needed already or some sort of one in a trillion coincidence. But I know that when I've gone through kinda traumatic things like that it helps to have actionable steps and to feel like my bases are covered. To that end, here's my advice:

It would probably be worth going to the nearest police station and reporting this, if you're up to it. Even if there isn't anything they can do right now, establishing a record that it happened could be important later. You should also probably report it to the dorm's RA or whoever you have to go to; if you have a front desk or something like that, ask they keep an eye out for anyone suspicious, and that shouldn't give your room number or other info out to anyone.

I know it seems like a hassle, or embarrassing or whatever, but it's good to mention this to people so it's a known thing. Establishing that it's a pattern makes the difference between a he said/she said situation and having officials and/or the law on your side, and can give them the information they need to help keep you safe. It's worth sharing the pictures you took with anyone too, even if it isn't proof alone.

In the mean time, maybe mix up your schedule, and try to have a friend with you when you go out. You could also look up safe havens near you or along your routes: police stations, schools, libraries, fire stations, churches, YMCAs, shelters. If worst comes to worst, people will protect you if you ask; so if it does happen again, just stay calm, duck into the nearest safe place, try to get video if you can, and you can figure things out from there.

 

[SASU-KE]

Well, how about confronting the individual and taking close up videos?

Ask them why they're following you.

 

[LastNite]

Well, how about confronting the individual and taking close up videos?

Ask them why they're following you.

Wouldn't it be dangerous? Some random person you know nothing about following you all day long and trying to hide from you obviously doesn't want to get close enough to talk to you.

Filming said person and reporting them to law enforcement would be safer and just better in general. You never know what is someone is up to. Also, cops can access surveillance cameras that might help track that creep.

Juniper should buy bear pepper spray and a taser just in case.