What to Do If You're Followed by a Car

Recently, a group of Northern California tourists visiting Southern California were followed back to their Airbnb, where they were robbed of $70,000 in clothes and jewelry, according to ABC-7 TV. Whether it’s an attempt at a follow-home theft, or if it’s a stalker situation, here are the SFPD and SF SAFE’s tips for knowing what to do if you’re ever followed in a car.

Don’t Panic! Take a deep breath and stay focused so you don’t allow your own distraction to cause you to have an accident.

Don’t Drive Home. Nobody wants the bad guy to know where they live—or in the case of visitors—where their rental/hotel room is and where their valuables are

stashed.

Confirm You’re Being Followed. Drivers can do this safely by driving slowly and/or safely changing lanes at the last minute to see if the other driver does the same. SF SAFE safety expert Furlishous Wyatt also recommends making three consecutive turns in the same direction (which will take you in a circle) as a tactic to help

confirm you’re being followed.

Don’t Take Matters into Your Own Hands. Odds are you are not Bruce Lee’s protégé, so it’s best not to stop your vehicle and approach the other driver who is following you. The other driver could have a firearm, knife or something else that can harm you.

Drive to a Safe Place. Once you’re pretty sure someone is following you, drive to the nearest “safe place”—this includes any location that’s light, bright and populated with other people. Possible options include a hospital, fast food restaurant, strip mall or a police station—but only if these places are populated at that time. “You want physical activity in front of the location you go to,” said Wyatt, who said the presence of other people acts as a deterrent to the person following you. He added that a gas station is NOT recommended since most attendants are in kiosks and not readily available to help. Once you’re in the safe place, then call 911 for help.

Wyatt also suggested that community members be on high alert about possibly being followed home after visiting an ATM in their car. “Be aware of your surroundings day or night,” he said. “Make sure you’re not being followed” when you leave the bank.

“Whether you’re a resident of San Francisco, or a visitor to another city, it’s important to keep these safety smarts at hand,” said SF SAFE Executive Director Kyra Worthy. “Here’s hoping you never need to employ these tips, but it’s always best to be informed in the event a follow-home scenario happens to you.”