PanicStation.org
UK USA
us Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
someone is lingering or waiting for you in a lobby, corridor, stairwell, or entrance

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

Short answer

Do not move closer to the person or enter an isolated area with them. Go to a locked, staffed, busy, or otherwise safer place, and call 911 if you believe you are in immediate danger.

Do not do these things

  • Do not approach the person to demand an explanation.
  • Do not enter an isolated elevator, corridor, or stairwell to get around them.
  • Do not unlock a secured entrance or reveal your apartment, room, office, or destination.
  • Do not ask a friend, coworker, or building employee to confront the person.
  • Do not remain nearby solely to film the person or gather more information.
  • Do not assume you need proof of harmful intent before creating distance or asking for help.

What to do now

  1. Pause and create distance. If you are outside, go to a nearby staffed business or remain inside a locked vehicle if that is safer. If you are inside, move behind a locked door, to a front desk, or toward other people.
  2. Call 911 if the person threatens you, approaches after you move away, blocks your exit, tries doors, displays a weapon, follows you, or otherwise makes you believe you are in immediate danger. Give the exact address, entrance, floor, and your current location.
  3. If speaking could put you at risk, text 911 where text-to-911 is available. Include your exact location and the nature of the emergency, and follow the call-taker’s instructions. If the message is rejected or you receive a bounce-back saying text-to-911 is unavailable, make a voice call as soon as it is safe or ask someone nearby to call.
  4. Contact the front desk, building manager, concierge, security team, or workplace security. Tell them where the person is and ask them to stay with you, check the area, or arrange an escort. Ask them not to reveal your name, unit, room, or destination.
  5. Call a trusted person and tell them your exact location. Ask them to remain on the phone, meet you in a staffed place, or contact emergency help for you rather than confronting the person.
  6. Use another staffed or well-used exit only if you can reach it without moving closer to the person or entering an isolated passage. Otherwise, remain in the safer place until help or an escort arrives.
  7. If the person follows you, do not lead them to your home, apartment, hotel room, vehicle, or private workspace. Go toward a staffed public place and call 911 if you believe you are in danger.
  8. After reaching safety, write down the time, place, appearance, behavior, direction of travel, and any vehicle details you already noticed. Do not return or move closer to obtain more information.
  9. If the same person has appeared repeatedly, seems to know your routine, or is someone you know and fear, contact VictimConnect or a local victim-service provider for individualized safety planning.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether this was a misunderstanding, trespassing, harassment, stalking, or another offense. Reviewing security footage, making a non-emergency report, changing your routine, or making long-term housing or workplace decisions can wait until you are safe and able to think clearly.

Important reassurance

You do not need certainty about the person’s intentions before creating distance or asking for assistance. Taking your discomfort seriously does not require confronting or accusing anyone.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only; repeated incidents or continuing concerns may require individualized help from a victim advocate, building management, workplace security, or local law enforcement.

Important note

This is general personal-safety information, not legal, law-enforcement, or other professional advice. Emergency and victim-support services may vary by location.

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.

Support us