To think this was strange

[LazyDaysy]

I’d gone to the supermarket yesterday evening, it’s open until late. It’s in a small shopping complex which is partially outdoors and partially covered.

They have a ground floor car park and one underground. I’d parked in the one underground and gone up the travelator, level with the supermarket doors. To the left of the supermarket doors there are stairs and lifts that lead you up to the main shopping centre, where all the retail units are.

A young girl came jogging out the supermarket, maybe 17 or 18? She said, ‘excuse me, do you know how to get back up to the main shopping centre?’ I pointed out the steps and lift which were right next to us. She shook her head and said that she’d tried going up the steps but couldn’t figure out where she was going when she got up to the top, and could I just show her? She claimed not to be from the area.

Alarm bells were ringing at this point because all the shops are there when you get to the top of the stairs. It’s a really simple layout.

I just shook my head and apologised, told her to try again and walked into the supermarket. She then mumbled a thanks and jogged off in the opposite direction.

Was this weird or probably innocent? I felt uneasy!

I’ll add it was later, 8pm and really quiet not many others around. Obviously CCTV surrounding the supermarket and security/staff in the supermarket itself.

Was the staircase private? Do you think she wanted to get you out of sight of cameras so that she could steal from you?

Quite, come to think of it. Not sure if cameras cover it

Definitely weird.

If she was distressed she could have asked to use your phone.

If going up the stairs was obviously the way (that she would see of she had tried it) then most likely she was trying to lure you for a bad reason.

I would report to the non emergency police line with a description of her, just in case she does it to someone else and things go wrong.

(Shows a pattern of behaviour and premeditation).

I would trust your gut instinct on this. There may well have been something else about her that made you realise she was trouble.

This is why we have spidy senses and why it’s important to listen to them.

Yes I’d find that strange. If I really was lost I’d just ask for clearer/more specific directions. I wouldn’t ask a stranger to come around with me to find where I needed?

You said she was 17/18 - was she coming to you as an adult or in a child like sort of way? Not sure if that makes sense but was she a bit naive/worried looking, or was she acting strangely but like an adult?

Strangely like an adult I would say.