Even in crowded places, danger can lurk where we least expect it. One woman’s recent experience at a shopping mall is a stark reminder of why staying alert—and remembering safety advice—can make all the difference.
After a day of shopping with her husband, the woman stopped to use the restroom while her husband waited in the car. But as she entered, she froze—a man was already inside, and he turned to face her as she walked past. Suddenly, a safety tip she’d read online flashed through her mind: If you feel you’re being followed, don’t go into a bathroom alone. She immediately backed out and returned to the mall, but the man followed.
Her pulse racing, she recalled another piece of advice: Walk into an unexpected store to throw off a pursuer. She spotted a dollhouse shop—an unusual choice for most men—and ducked inside. But to her horror, the man entered right after her, keeping his eyes locked on her.
Now certain she was in danger, she hurried back into the mall, the stranger still trailing her. Without hesitation, she called her husband and said loudly, “I’m being followed by the man behind me.” Her husband came running, and the moment the stalker saw him, he bolted. Thanks to the wisdom shared by other women online, she turned a potentially dangerous situation into a narrow escape.
