I go running around my apartment complex almost every morning. This morning when I was done I stopped to get my mail, then I was walking to my apartment. There was a guy walking in the parking lot and he was going a different direction. It sounded like someone was a little ways behind me so I turned around and he had changed his course and was now walking behind me. I got to my apartment and shut the door. I heard someone outside the apartment and so I looked through the key hole and he was standing outside my door. He then walked toward where the windows to my bedrooms where so he was out of sight. I did some workout then I decided to check again and he was standing right outside my door then he went to my neighbors and took some clothes off of their table that is outside (neighbors door is about 10 feet from ours. I thought maybe he was visiting them. So I continued my workout. My husband walked in the room and started talking to me, then he stopped and said "is someone staring in our window." The guy at first stood in the corner of the window but then he moved to the middle when he saw me looking. My husband left the room to put a shirt on to go outside and the guy saw him and took off running. My husband could not find the guy any where. Needless to say I am a little freaked out. I don't know what to do. Should I call the cops and report what happened or just let it go. This happened a couple of hours ago.
So I called the cops to report this jerk and of course they cannot do anything about it but take a report which is at least something. I am glad that my husband saw the guy to so he can watch of for him as well. I did not go running today since I am still a little freaked out. I am going to change my running routine and try going at a different time. I would not be so worried if I did not have 3 kids at home alone with me all day so I hope this guy just stays away. Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
Yes call the police AND the apartment manager!
This could easily accelerate into something way worse!
VERY CREEPY!!!!
Oh my LORD, CALL THE COPS. This guy is a rapist waiting to happen, if he isn't ALREADY. You are very lucky, so incredibly lucky...that nothing happened to you. I can't reiterate enough how serious this is. Call them ASAP. NOW!!!
Report it ASAP
Let your landlord know (and surrounding neighbors) in the event your landlord doesn't want to alarm people.. At least you can let them know about this weirdo.. Also, perhaps a neighborhood watch group can begin... it's important to make sure EVERYONE is aware of this guy....
Try not to be alone for awhile... not to scare you, but hey.......... he seems to have picked you out... check around your car before getting in.... run with a partner if possible...
Considering he was going in the opposite direction, saw you and then suddenly he is going in the same direction, and then you actually can hear him outside , I would have called when I saw that he was standing outside my door.
ETA
It sounds like he didnt see your husband at first, and I'd bet he liked the fact that you saw him there at the window and he stepped to the center of it , expected you to show fear. That kind of boldness says to me he was after YOU. Yea... I'd bet he is a rapist looking for a victim. I hope your hubby was scary enough to make the bastard leave you alone.
You can file a police report but they're not going to be happy you waited so long. I went through a similar experience. I was asleep and heard feet crunching leaves outside my bedroom window. Woke to see the silhouette of someone trying to look in. Completely freaked me out! I didn't know what to do and waited about a half hour before calling police. They arrived and said they wished I'd called earlier so they had a chance of tracking down the person.
However, you're lucky in your case that you saw the guy and can give a description. It's probably worth it to at least get this on record. If he's watching you, he may be watching others and they can keep a closer eye on your apt. community.
CALL THE POLICE! He's either a pervert or casing the apartments to rob them or worse!
Yes, call the cops.
Report it.
I assume, since you saw him, you can describe him and they can get a drawing of the guy.
Tell your building complex/the Manager etc. So other neighbors will be aware.
OF COURSE call the Cops.
This is not good.
Make sure you have LOCKS on all your windows etc. or window coverings etc.
You can also get door alarms.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias...
And for your windows.
AND the thing is: the Guy, MAYBE knows your daily routines.... ? So be careful.
What if he is also a Stalker and a Peeping Tom???
I mean, the guy DID FOLLOW YOU, home. And was bold enough to just stand outside your door, and your windows.
He KNOWS where you live.... and where you go running etc.
He was bold enough to watch you running, then when you walked home and once you did get home, he was STILL there, in FRONT OF YOUR DOOR. He followed you. You. To your apartment.
CALL the Cops.
Did you TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS that he also, took some clothes off THEIR table, too???
You gotta DOCUMENT all of this while your memory is still fresh, and with the details of what he LOOKED like and what he was wearing etc.
I would not, go running by yourself in the morning anymore, nor have the same routines everyday.
Keep a cell phone ON you at all times.
Have someone come over to be with you if you can.
Tell all your neighbors, on each side of you/your apartment.
Alert them, too.
Go to the store, and get LOCKS & alarms for your doors and windows.
I would have called the cops long before, like when he was standing at your door and didn't ring the doorbell.
I would alter your running schedule, R., as of tomorrow. This is scary. You should keep your cell phone with you at all times outside the apartment, in your hand, and take a picture of him if you see him again. If he comes near you, even to ask why you're taking a picture, start dialing 911 and tell him "I'm calling the police!" And start talking to them and immediately launch into a description of him, where you are and your name, as fast as you can talk. He will see that you are not an easy mark, and he will run. Meanwhile, you get the heck away from him.
I would go down to the police station this afternoon, if I were you, and report what happened and give them a description. You never know if other people might be experiencing this, and your description could help them find him. OR they are trying to solve a crime and this might help them with that. They might even be able to use you for a lineup witness if they get him in custody from another crime.
Good luck!
Dawn
I hope you already called by now. file a report, ask for increased patrol. I wouldnt go anywhere without pepperspray and change any routine if you can. Creepy!!!!!
My husband is a cop. Always report something like this. They may not be able to do anything about this instance - but it establishes a record in case there's more to come. Plus, they may have had other reports in the precinct and now they know where the guy is this week. If there's a next time try to take a picture (use your phone, digital camera, whatever) it may spook him away. Since your husband went outside it may have scared the guy away and it may be over. But, I'd be cautious about running alone again. (My husband would never let me out alone again) If you can't bring your husband (he's with the kiddos?) can you run with a friend, or a mean looking dog? If you insist on going alone, you must have your phone in your hand and with your husband's number ready to go wish just a push of the "call" button. Peepers often escalate their actions - today he was looking in the window - tomorrow he may be playing with himself while watching you and 2 months from now he could be harming you or someone else.
Check to see if your complex or any of the businesses around you have security cameras - there's a chance he showed up on one of their tapes.
Hopefully the fact that you have a husband is enough to scare him away - but NEVER go out running if your husband isn't around. Invest in a treadmill and stay safe. We live in a fallen world, with depravity made easier for perverts by the internet, you need to protect yourself and your family.
YES call the cops!!! You need to report this ASAP!
call the cops NOW! That is very dangerous and would totally freak me out. My cousin had a peeping tom when she lived in an apartment. My dad set up a video camera and let her keep our dog at her house for a couple weeks. With the video, the cops were able to catch the guy and arrest him. She also felt safer with our dog there (big rot). She is a single mom as well, so no hubby or boyfriend to help her out.
Make a police report asap!
definitely call. And while you are thinking about it, write down everything you can remember about his movements and what he was wearing/how he looked. It is so easy to forget a little detail when taliking to an officer about somehting that you are stressed about.
Oh my goodness! How scary! Like the others said, call the police! I also agree with Julie about letting your neighbors and management know. Keep your cell phone with you at all times, inside and out; be extremely aware of your surroundings when you go out, and keep something like pepper spray or even just your keys in your hand in a way that you can use them to defend yourself whenever you leave. If you see him again snap a picture with your phone and if you can't do that get somewhere safe and write down everything that you can remember of what he looked like including clothes he was wearing.
I would just be very cautious of going out alone for the time being. I know it will suck for a while but better safe then sorry.
Hugs. I hope it doesn't happen again. Good luck and let us know that you are safe.
Call the police and file a report. Also keep a camera close, ready to go. If you see him again take as many pictures of him as you can. This way you can give the police the pictures. They will have a much easier way to find him of they know what he really looks like.
I would also alert the neighbors.
I would have called the police the 1st time he was near your window. Please call now!!
I would have called the police immediately.
that freaks M. out that he was so bold to J. let you know he was there. i would cal the apartment manager and the cops.
I would have called the police as soon as I saw him start to follow me probably. Espeicially once I saw him standing outside of my door.
Years ago, about 8.5 years ago I was in my apartment alone with my daughter, who was less than 6 months old. My husband was at bowling league that night. I went to the door and looked out the peephole and it was a nicely dressed but creep looking male. I didn't answer and he knocked again. Then he tried to look in the peephole. I had dialed 911 on my cell, but hit the send button when he tried to look in. Then it sounded like he tried to open the door!! I was freaking out!! I grabbed one of my husband's metal bats and just sat by the door. The man finally left and he went upstairs.
When the police came, they found a church card slid in between my door and the doorframe. Ugh! It was a local Baptist church that pushes WAY too hard for people to come to them. But he freaked me out. I called the church the next day and told them I had called the police on their man who freaked me out and I would call again the next time they came around, because they were creepy about it.
Where we live now, 5 minutes down the road, when churches come knock on our door, they knock and then take the three steps from our porch to the sidewalk to put some space in. I appreciate that!
But yes, call the police!
