I quickly grabbed a few things here and there in wal-mart before heading to the grocery side to stock my apartment. I started at the back and continued my way down each isle grabbing what I needed as I went along. Your typical wal-mart trip, right? WRONG! I noticed about 5 isles down that a man in a red shirt and black pants was with me in each isle, yet he didn't have a buggy. He touched a few things on each shelf as he stood rather close behind me. I noticed he was also watching me and kept glancing my way. So I tried to make eye contact thinking, this will scare him away, he will know that I see him. Wrong again. He continued to follow closely behind me at each isle. I made sure to keep my purse at my hands at all times, if he was going to rob me I was going to put up a fight. Then I thought, Keri, stop being so paranoid! But when he continued to follow me up and down each isle I knew I wasn't being paranoid, I was really being followed. I called my mom to let her know what was going on and I found an isle with three wal-mart employees stocking shelves. I stayed there to explain the situation to my mom and then decided to make a new friend, for safety's sake. So, I went up to an employee, explained the situation, and asked him to be my friend. Thankfully, he agreed and walked with me to the front of the store as we tried to find my stalker. We made it to the front of the store without seeing him, and my mind screamed Keri, you are crazy and this man knows it! But praise be to God the man said, I will be in this isle stocking, finish shopping and come back if you see him.
Not a second after the man left my side my follower was back, but this time on the outside of the isle rather than right beside me. I made the turn to go back to the isle with my 'friend' and prayed please God, let him see him. Ok so, like I said he was on the outside of the isle, so I went to the other side to leave and circled back to the isle my 'friend' was on. Thankfully the guy had come down that isle and I temporarily trapped him with my buggy in between me and my 'friend'. I pointed and raised my voice so that I knew he could hear, and said See that guy, he is following me. I was looking almost directly at my followers face and my 'friend' behind him mouthed 'really?' and as I told him yes my followed slipped out of the isle and into another. With that I stayed with my friend and we both watched for the follower to show again, and of course he did. So we both stared at him watching his every moved. He moved into an isle across from ours. My 'friend' gave me a hug, hoping to make our relationship seem more real. I was glad to have found a perfect stranger who was so willing to help me out in my time of crisis.
My follower ducked into another isle and my 'friend' instructed me to continue shopping and that if he came near to me or spoke to me to get a manager and call security; but if he didn't just come back when I was done and he could walk me to my car. So, a little shaken, I continued my shopping, grabbed two or three more things before I decided I was through pressing my luck. I went back to my 'friend' and he walked me up front, asked me to pick a checkout and get my bags. He stayed outside the checkout, watching for my follower, and I kept my eyes open for him as well. My 'friend' described the man to a few cashiers he knew and then we continued out to my car. There was no one around and I loaded my groceries and thanked my new friend. He said to be safe and that he would help me out anytime. And for him I am truly thankful.
I took a different way home, just to be safe and carefully observed all cars and their passengers around me. No one followed me home and I am now inside my apartment safe and sound watching the world cup game. :)
I believe that people, especially females, should ALWAYS be careful no matter where they are. Be aware of your surroundings and don't be afraid to ask for help. I looked up a list of steps online for each of you to read, as I know my readers are mostly female. Be careful, no matter what, and especially when alone. I am thankful that God sent His angels to protect me today and I know that He will always be there to protect me.
Steps
1Make sure that they aren't just walking to a place nearby where you are going, or drivingslowly because of an obstruction in the road.
2Cross the road, even if you're not at a crosswalk, being careful of oncoming traffic.
3Walk briskly and look like you know where you're going. If you appear distracted or dawdling, this may make it easier for the possible predator to attack.
4Try not to keep looking over your shoulder at them. Use side-mirrors of cars or any otherreflection to check. Speed up, but don't break into a run. (If you must look over your shoulder don't look with the corner of your eye this only makes you look intimidated and weak, instead its better to turn your entire head around until you can see whoever is following you with both eyes.)
5Get into a public place as soon as possible if they continue to follow you. Try and find a group of women or dart into a shop. This would put most possible attackers off.
6Tell the manager or owner of the shop that you're worried you are being followed. They will most likely contact the police or allow you use of their phone to call someone.
7Find a well-lit area near the road where cars are passing by if there isn't a shop nearby. This way you will be easily noticed by people if the stranger attempts to attack.
Girl that is crazy! I'm so glad you're alright!
ReplyDelete