How to Avoid an Attack if You Think You're Being Followed

Co-authored by Saul Jaeger, MS and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: September 27, 2024 Approved

It can be extremely creepy and unnerving if you sense that somebody’s following you. Even though it may be tough in the moment, stay calm and try not to panic. Luckily, there are a lot of precautions you can take to prevent another person from targeting you. We’ll cover some basic strategies to help you lose the person without any conflict and get somewhere safe. Just remember, never hesitate to call the police if you feel threatened or uncomfortable.

Note: This is not a substitution for a self-defense class––it's a guide for deflecting someone following you with as little interaction as possible.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

On Foot

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1
Change directions if you're suspicious of someone following you. Even if you think you’re being followed, it might be a coincidence that the person is just walking the same direction as you. If you want to find out if they’re truly following you, change directions at the next street corner or crosswalk even if it takes you out of your way. As you turn, quickly glance over your shoulder and get a look at the person so you’re able to recognize them. Keep adding more turns to your route and watch for the person to see if they’re still following you.^{[1]
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- If the person is following you in a vehicle, turn around and go back the way you came.^{[2]
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  Research source} That way, the person has to make a quick turn to find you again and will be easy to notice.
- If you think you’re being followed but aren’t sure who it is or where they are, trust your instincts and immediately find somewhere safe to go, such as a crowded store, police station, or area with a lot of foot traffic.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Saul Jaeger, MS
  Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
  
  Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.}
2
Go into a crowded public area or store to try and lose the person. Walk into the nearest business that’s open and has a lot of people. Once you’re inside, keep your eye out to see if the person following you stops as well or walks in after you. If they do, find an employee or security guard to let them know you’re being followed. They may let you use their phone to contact the police or lead you to a different exit so you can lose your attacker.^{[4]
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- If there isn’t a public place that you can go inside, keep moving so your attacker doesn’t catch up.
- Learn the hours of the businesses in the area where you normally walk so you know where you can go in case you’re followed late at night.
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3
Turn and look at the person once you know they’re following you. Most attackers use the element of surprise, so show them that you know they’re there. As you’re walking, look over your shoulder and make eye contact with them. If they just happen to be walking in the same direction as you, they may give you a confused look back. However, if it was someone truly following you, you've let them know you’re wary of them and ready to react if something goes wrong.^{[5]
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- As you’re looking at the person, make mental notes of their appearance so you’re able to report them.
4
Contact the police as soon as you feel threatened. If at any point you feel like you’re in danger, don’t hesitate to call for help. Dial the number for your local emergency services and give them your name and location. Let the operator know which direction you’re heading and do your best to describe the appearance of the person following you.^{[6]
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Research source} Follow the operator’s directions while they send someone to assist or escort you.
- While you're calling, remember to watch where you're going and pay attention to your surroundings.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Saul Jaeger, MS
  Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
  
  Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.}
5
Scream or blow a whistle to draw attention to yourself if they get closer. If the person approaches you and you feel like they’re going to attack, start yelling as loud as you can and running away. If you have a personal alarm or whistle, use it to make even more noise. Once someone else comes to your aid, let them know that someone was following you and reach out to the authorities.^{[8]
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- It might feel embarrassing if you yell and the person wasn’t actually following you, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Loud noises might be enough to deter your attacker since they don’t want to draw any attention to themselves.
6
Drop your purse if the person quickly approaches you to see if they get distracted. Sometimes, an attacker will be satisfied taking your belongings and end up leaving you alone. If the person is approaching you quickly and you’ve determined they’ve followed you for a while, take your wallet and keys out of your bag. Let go of your bag and let it fall to the ground so you have a free hand. Walk away as quickly as you can to put some distance between you and the other person.
- Remember, your safety is more important than what’s in your bag. If you truly feel like you’re in danger, you can always drop your material possessions now and replace them later.
7
Aim for the person’s eyes, throat, or groin if you need to defend yourself. Hopefully, you won’t have to resort to it, but if worst comes to worst, you may need to protect yourself from danger. React quickly by pushing your thumbs into their eyes, hitting them in the throat, or kicking them in the groin to stun them. As soon as you land a blow, make a lot of noise and get to somewhere safe as fast as possible.^{[9]
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- Only defend yourself if you absolutely need to.
- Avoid resisting a robbery if the person has a weapon.^{[10]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

In a Vehicle

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1
Lock your doors and roll up your windows. Even though it might just be a coincidence that the person is going the same direction, double-check to make sure you locked your doors. Keep your windows closed to make it more difficult to get into your vehicle. Be sure to shut the sunroof as well if you have one. That way, if you’re caught in traffic, no one can get in your vehicle.^{[11]
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- Most newer vehicles lock your doors automatically once you start driving.
- Lock your doors right away when you get in your vehicle so you don’t have to worry about it later on.
2
Stay calm and maintain your speed. We know that you’re probably freaked out, but do your best to focus on the road and drive safely since they may not be following you. Avoid accelerating or braking suddenly as well as swerving around the road since you’re more likely to lose control of your vehicle. Follow the rules of the road so you don’t cause any confrontations.^{[12]
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- Never pull over if you’re being followed by an unknown vehicle, even if they flash their lights at you.
- You might be tempted to watch the other vehicle in your rear-view mirror, but focus on what’s in front of you so you aren’t distracted.
3
Make a few unusual turns when you think someone is tailing you. If you notice the same car behind you for a long period of time, don’t panic yet since they may truly be going the same direction as you. To see if they’re really following you, take a route that stands out against normal traffic. In a residential area, make 4 right turns. If you’re on the highway, take the next exit and immediately get back on the entrance ramp. If the vehicle is still tailing you, then there’s a good chance they’re following you.^{[13]
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- Avoid going down remote roads without a lot of traffic since it gives the person following you a chance to attack.
4
Make a mental note of the person and the vehicle’s appearance. Briefly glance in your mirror and do your best to remember what the vehicle looks like. Pay attention to the color and type of vehicle and commit it to memory. Then do your best to see the person driving. Try to remember their approximate age, gender, and any other defining characteristics. When you have a chance to safely pull over, write everything down so you don’t forget it.
- Don’t try to acknowledge the person too much. If they know that you’ve noticed them, they might slow down and that will make it harder to get enough details about them to report to the cops.
- If you have a passenger, ask them to write things down for you so you can focus on driving.
5
Call the police to report the person and vehicle as soon as you can. Dial the number for your local police department and let them know who and where you are. Let them know that you’re being followed, and do your best to describe the vehicle and the other person.^{[14]
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Research source} Wait inside of your locked car until the police show up so they can check out the situation and safely escort you home.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.}
- You can also call the police while you’re driving so they can come tail the vehicle that’s following you to see if it poses a threat.
6
Drive to the nearest police station or populated area right away. Stick to well-lit roads that have a bit of traffic so you’re never alone with the person following you. If it’s safe to do so, like if you’re stopped in traffic, look up the nearest police station and head straight there.^{[16]
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- Avoid going back home right away, or else you may lead the attacker there.
- If you don’t know where the closest police station is or if you don’t have enough gas to get there, pull into a busy gas station or well-lit parking lot and stay in your vehicle.
7
Honk your horn repeatedly to get someone else’s attention. If the vehicle still follows you, use your horn or turn on the vehicle’s alarm to draw attention to yourself. Hopefully, the noise will be enough to deter the person. Otherwise, wait for someone else to approach your vehicle, slightly roll down your window, and let them know about what’s going on.^{[17]
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- Turn on your emergency flasher lights as well to let other people know there’s something wrong.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

General Safety

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1
Walk at a steady pace with your head up. Act confident and maintain your stride so you don’t look like an easy target. Stay alert and act like you know where you’re going even if you’re new in the area since attackers are more likely to strike people who look lost.
- Maintain good posture to show that you’re alert and ready for action in case something goes wrong. This might be enough to deter an attacker from targeting you in the first place.
2
Stay in well-lit and populated areas. While you may get tempted to take shortcuts to get away, avoid going down alleys or dark streets alone. Stick to sidewalks and areas that have a lot of foot traffic since attackers are less likely to strike if there are witnesses. Even if you have to take a longer way to your destination, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable and safer surrounded by others.^{[18]
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- Let another person know that you think you’re being followed and ask if you can walk with them for a little while. People are less likely to attack if you’re in a group.
- Avoid going home if you’re being followed since you could lead the attacker there.
3
Be mindful of your surroundings at all times. Whenever you’re walking somewhere alone, keep an eye on the people in front of and behind you so you’re able to notice any suspicious behavior.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.} Avoid looking at your phone or down at the ground since a potential attacker may notice that you’re not paying attention and think you’re more vulnerable. The sooner that you recognize someone is tailing you, the more time you’ll have to react and get away safely.^{[20]
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- Avoid wearing headphones or playing loud music if you’re walking alone.
- Make brief eye contact with strangers as they approach you. That way, you convey the message that you can identify them later on if they attack.^{[21]
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4
Stay aware of other people and vehicles when you’re in a parking lot. Before you get to a vehicle, take your keys out of your bag or pocket so you don’t get distracted looking for them later. Keep your head up and pay attention to any other people to watch for suspicious behavior. If you see anyone that makes you feel uneasy around your vehicle, go back to where you came from and ask someone for help.
- Park in well-lit areas so you’re able to see other people easily and to deter someone from breaking into your vehicle
- Look for exits if you’re in an underground or enclosed lot so you know where you can escape if you feel threatened.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can you stop burglars from targeting your home?

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

There's certainly things you can do. You can invest in proximity alarms, cameras, and fake cameras that blink red lights and deter possible burglars. There's also things like leaving your car in the driveway instead of in your garage and leaving your lights on.

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Tips

Ask a buddy to go places with you so you aren’t alone.^{[22]
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Do your best to stay calm and try not to panic. That way, you look more confident and it could prevent an attack.^{[23]
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Switch which routes you take frequently so it’s harder for someone to follow your routine.^{[24]
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Warnings

If you ever don’t feel safe or comfortable, trust your gut and try to get away as soon as you can.^{[25]
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If someone attempts to rob you and threatens you with a weapon, give them what they asked for so you’re less likely to get injured. Immediately go somewhere safe and contact the police afterward.^{[26]
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Be careful of people who ask you for the time or for directions since they may try to take advantage of you when you let your guard down.^{[27]
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Avoid wearing headphones since you could lose focus and won’t be able to hear someone approaching.^{[28]
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