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us Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
someone is blocking, waiting near, or watching you approach your parked car

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Do not keep walking toward the car. Move to a staffed, locked, well-lit, or well-occupied place, and call 911 if the person follows, approaches, threatens, corners, or otherwise puts you in immediate danger.

Do not do these things

  • Do not approach or confront the person to find out what they want.
  • Do not try to squeeze past someone blocking the car or its doors.
  • Do not unlock the car while the person is close to it.
  • Do not move to a quieter or more isolated place to avoid attention.
  • Do not remain exposed solely to photograph or record the person.
  • Do not accept a ride or assistance from an unknown person nearby.
  • Do not return to the car alone simply because the person appears to have moved away.

What to do now

  1. Turn away from the parked car and create distance. Go back inside the building you left or move toward an occupied business, staffed desk, security station, police station, fire station, or group of people.
  2. Call 911 if you believe you are in immediate danger. Give your location first, then describe what the person is doing, the person’s appearance, your car, and any weapon or threat you observed. Answer the call-taker’s questions and follow their instructions.
  3. Tell an employee, parking attendant, campus safety officer, building security worker, or venue manager that someone is blocking, waiting near, or watching your parked car. Ask to remain in the staffed area and request an escort or help contacting police.
  4. Contact someone you trust. Tell them your exact location and what is happening, and share your live location when doing so will not expose you to further risk.
  5. Keep your phone and keys with you, but leave the car locked while the person remains nearby. Do not approach a blocked door or attempt to drive away if reaching the car would put you within the person’s reach.
  6. If the person moves toward you or follows you, continue toward people or a staffed place rather than toward your car or an isolated exit. Call 911 or update the call-taker about the person’s movement and direction.
  7. If the person leaves, remain in the safer place and ask security or police whether it is safe to return. Arrange for an escort to the car when one is available.
  8. After you are safely away, write down the time, location, person’s description, behavior, direction of travel, and any vehicle details you remember. Save relevant messages, photographs, video, or incident numbers without returning to gather more information.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether the behavior was stalking, harassment, an attempted carjacking, or another crime. Retrieving the car, making a non-emergency report, contacting the parking operator, changing routines, posting about the incident, and considering longer-term safety measures can wait until you are in a safe place.

Important reassurance

You do not need proof that the person intends harm before stepping away and seeking help. Leaving the car temporarily, returning to a staffed place, and asking someone to accompany you are reasonable safety choices.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate steps for creating distance and getting help. Repeated appearances, threats, following, or unwanted monitoring may require individualized safety planning and support from local law enforcement or a victim-services organization.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal, law-enforcement, or professional security advice. Conditions can change quickly, so follow instructions from emergency call-takers and responding personnel.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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