To think he was following me?

[Elmo311]

Good evening everyone!

I'm still bloody thinking about this like 3 hours later so I basically wanted opinions on what people think, whether I'm just thinking too much into it!

I took my daughter to the park around 4pm, just a short visit before dinner as the park is about 6 mins walk away.

When we were leaving the park, she decided that she wanted to walk, she's 18months old so the walk was slow! Anyway, a man passed us by and he stared at us, I thought it was weird but maybe he was just thinking that we were in his way and he was annoyed that he had to walk in the grass as I was pushing the buggy and holding her hand and we took up the path.

As we were at the gate to leave the park a couple of mins(?) later he passed by again entering the park , still staring at me.

I carried on out of the park holding my daughters hand and a few mins went by as we were pointing out busses etc, I then put her in the buggy and kept walking towards home, and he passed by AGAIN looking at us! As he turned his head away, he couldn't see me) I actually remember mouthing WTF?

He walked ahead and then turned around to stare at us again and I started to get freaked out so when he turned away I hid behind a Bush next to a house, I then saw him turn around to head back towards us and as he was about to pass I walked out so that he'd be behind us. I think this was to maybe confirm that he was following me? I don't know!

He kept doubling back so whenever he passed me he'd walk back again staring at us. When I got to my house I hid nearby and he couldn't see me so he walked back again.

It was a busy road, luckily. But I'm so freaked out at how vulnerable I felt especially because my daughter was with me. But I also was close to saying "can I help you?" Or something ruder!

Do you find this weird? I even took a photo of him and walking ahead of me incase anything happened I could remember what he was wearing 😫.

What should I have done? All the other adjacent roads were quieter so less safe!

I'm freaking out thinking about what he wanted, whether he wanted to harm us etc :(

No ones going to be able to tell you if he was actually following you because we arnt him but it sounds very odd and like suspicious behaviour. I'd of probably done the same as you tbf!

He may be your long lost brother. You may be the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He may have been lost and thought you was weird as fuck following him. Who knows.

When I have been in a similar situation here are my responses

1. I went up to a couple on the street and said ‘hi can I just speak to you and pretend we are friends because I am a bit cautious about that man’.
2. I ran away as fast as I could (probably not practical in your situation)
3. I did the same thing as number one but to a family.

Ummm writing that down it seems like wierd men following me has been a ‘thing’ but it has happened once at age 18, 22 and 40.

@NetflixWatcher your comment made me smile thank you haha

I wouldn’t have said/done anything. I wouldn’t have hid in a bush either

@chocoholicc thanks you for confirming that it was odd! I am now scared to go back to that park! 😫

Freaky but I don’t think you need to worry as a singular instance.

A bloke used to do this to me and my sister when we walked to and from secondary school, it was horrible. It went on till I told my mum and she reported him to local police. He moved house. To opposite the school

@Givemeabreak88 So just carried on walking? I was concerned he'd find out where I live.

I probably would’ve done what you did, or if anyone else was approachable I would’ve asked to be near them and pretend I knew them. Horrible experience for you.

Yep, why would I hide in a bush? You do sound overly anxious saying you are scared to go back to the park is quite extreme

Approach people as previous person said. It is strange behavior. Do you have a photo of his face?

@Givemeabreak88 I think if I was by myself I wouldn't have been as worried, I just feel overprotective of my daughter.

@Newfornow No photo of his face, I wasn't that brave but I remember it!

Very common I'm afraid. I / we have been followed 4 times that I can remember. We just got in a public space asap.

Once on holiday we got in a taxi to get away, the man actually got in another taxi and followed us.

I would be very worried.
He could have been interested in you or your child. I would go elsewhere for a while.

@stackemhigh :( I hate how common it is for women to feel like this

I wouldn't be worried to go back to the park. But l think l would report this to 101. He might have done this to another woman/other women.

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2 Thank you, I will call them tomorrow just to flag it.

That would have worried me too, OP. I think I would have tried to do what you did so he couldn’t see where I lived. I once was followed when I was in my car and I drove to a supermarket car park to lose him, and waited until I could see his car leave the car park (plus about another 20 mins 😂).

I wouldn’t necessarily let it put you off going to that park if you generally feel safe enough there and it isn’t dark/extremely quiet. 4pm is far too late for me to be out alone with my 18 month old atm just because of how dusky/dark it would be getting at that time. However, if you see him again then you know to be wary and make sure he can’t find your house!

Still not nice to think of but probably more likely that if he did mean any harm that he was eyeing up your possessions to see if he could snatch a handbag rather than attack you or your daughter? Strange if he was thinking about doing that on a busy road though.

Creepy as fuck. I'd have rang my husband to come meet us. If he wasn't here I'd stop a woman or walk to someone's house I know. Or video call a friend on facebook and stay on the call until you're home, if you manage to switch the camera and catch his face then even better.

Please please report this happened my friends daughter on a train man followed her out. It turned out he was in a criminal gang looking for vulnerable girls please report

I'd not go hiding behind bushes. Keep out in the open where you are visible.

I remember being followed aged 14 or so. Weirdo even followed me home.

@FippertyGibbett

I would be very worried. He could have been interested in you or your child. I would go elsewhere for a while.

This. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have felt I've been followed a few times (ok, more actually) in my life. I got into a habit of texting my now DH a description of the person concerned and have been known to take a discreet photo too. I've had some very odd situations where it has been confirmed to me that I am being followed. Yes it is statistically rare to be attacked/harmed more seriously but it does happen so I can choose to listen to my gut and try and protect myself or not. I would in future be very obvious about taking their photo and sending it to someone you know and then calling them.