Stalked in the grocery store! Weird.

[Flaxbee]

So my husband and I stopped in the grocery store last night, and as usual, split up to grab separate things (expedites the shopping). It was a relatively unfamiliar store we don't go into very often, so I was wandering around a bit, got what we needed, wandered around a bit more to find my husband (who had the cart) and then we went to check out.

There was only one line open, and the woman who got in line behind us came up to me and said "thank goodness you have someone to protect you! You were being stalked by a short man in a cap! Every time you stopped to look for something, this guy stopped and watched you, and I told security they needed to make sure you got to your car OK."

I had noticed *nothing* of the sort, but I have to admit that when I'm with my husband, I tend not to be as observant of my surroundings as I am when I'm out alone, esp. alone at night. I don't know if this woman was just kind of wacky (she was very agitated, and I admit to checking my wallet after she came up to me b/c she was so close and flustered) or if she was was paranoid, or if she was truly being helpful. :shrug:

Weird. Anything like this happen to you? Are you careful when you're out at night, or don't worry about it much? I live in rural NC; I was much more alert when I lived in LA, DC or NY, though the area really shouldn't make much difference. I think it might be because this western NC/northern Georgia area is the general area where that young hiker was recently killed (beheaded) and the older hiking couple was killed (woman beheaded, can't find the man or his body) - though the police picked up the suspect weeks ago. Maybe everyone is just on edge.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. It's a good idea to be alert wherever you are.

I remember plenty of creepos like your stalker in my suburban neighborhood when I was a kid. I was horrified one time when I was in the grocery and this sicko, pants unzipped, rubbed up against a young woman who was bending over a freezer to reach something. I was only about 9 or 10 at the time...totally grossed me out.

You were wise to check on your wallet, too; because you never know when someone is going to take advantage of people's vulnerability after ocurrances like those horrific murders. Be careful and alert wherever you are.

[Phillycat]

2. Living in Philly so long, it's second nature.

Even when I'm with my husband, I am aware of who's around me, who's behind me on the sidewalk, how close they are, etc. Some people walk too close directly behind you, and I think that's bad city etiquette.

[suninvited]

3. I had a guy following me around in Big Lots

doing the same thing once. When I got scared and told one of the employees, they got the manager and it turns out it was a plain clothed security guard. To this day, I dont know what I did to make him suspicious of me and follow me around !

[PassingFair]

6. Shifty eyes.

Draws their suspicion every time.

[suninvited]

8. It couldnt have been the eyes

I was wearing dark sunglasses and a big hat pulled down over my face !

[Midlodemocrat]

9. Well, that can't be it. That wouldn't make a SOUL suspicious.

:rofl:

[Parche]

4. Hey Flaxee

Dont make me worry about you......:hug: :hug: :hug: :hi:


You be safe

I guess this would be any place in America, but that aweful thing that happened
there should make everyone watch out.......


:hug: :hug: :hi:

[SeattleGirl]

5. That's happened to me more than once.

Scariest time was one night when I was at a 7-Eleven. Guy behind me in line was standing WAY too close to me, so I turned around and asked him to step back. There was no reason for him to be that close to me.

Well, he didn't like that very much, apparently. I left to walk home (I lived about 4 blocks away). I had my keys in my hand, with the ends of the keys sticking through the spaces between my fingers, like I always do. All of a sudden, I hear someone behind me, so I turned to look, and it was that guy. He had a really pissed-off look on his face, and he was walking fast.

That scared the hell out of me. I started walking faster, and so did he. Then I got pissed off. Who in the hell did he think he was? So I stopped, turned around, planted my feet, and said to him, "Hey! You got a problem?"

Well, that knocked him off his pins, and he came to a screeching halt, turned around, and walked away. Bastid!

Got home okay, but it was nerve-wracking.

[harmonicon]

7. probably just a "secret shopper"/security

they're quite likely to follow people around, especially if you didn't have a cart or basket and were just picking up a few things.