PanicStation.org
UK USA
us Personal safety & immediate danger being stalked • i think someone is stalking me • repeated coincidental encounters • same person keeps showing up • someone following me • being followed in public • unwanted attention in person • harassment and stalking concern • commute stalking • workplace stalking • home being watched • patterns of encounters • suspicious sightings • fear after repeated meetings • ex keeps turning up • stranger keeps appearing • public place safety concern • digital plus in-person stalking • documenting stalking incidents • protective order question

What to do if…
you think you are being stalked after noticing repeated “coincidental” encounters

Short answer

Get to a safer, public place and alert someone you trust. If you feel in immediate danger, call 911.

Do not do these things

  • Do not try to “confirm” the stalking by leading them somewhere isolated or putting yourself at risk.
  • Do not confront them alone or accept a private meeting to “clear it up.”
  • Do not post your location or routine in real time (including check-ins and stories).
  • Do not delete messages, DMs, voicemails, photos, or screenshots that might show a pattern.
  • Do not assume you must wait until it “gets worse” before contacting police or a victim service.

What to do now

  1. Move to a safer pause. Go inside a busy store/café or toward staff/security. If you’re driving, go to a well-lit public place (not home) like a large, staffed business and stay where other people are, or go to a police station public lobby/parking area if nearby.
  2. If you feel in immediate danger, call 911. If you can’t safely speak, call and stay on the line and try to communicate your location if you can. In some areas you can text 911, but it’s not available everywhere—if you try it, text your exact location and what’s happening.
  3. Tell one person immediately. Share where you are, what you’ve noticed, and what you’re doing next. If this is happening around work/school, inform security or administration and ask for an escort to your car/transit.
  4. Start a basic incident log. Record date/time, location, what happened, description, any vehicle plate/details, and possible witnesses/CCTV. Save screenshots, call logs, gifts/notes, and any unwanted messages. (If you use a template later, don’t include anything you wouldn’t want the stalker to see.)
  5. Make today’s travel harder to track without taking risks. Don’t go straight home if you think you’re being followed. Stay on main roads, head to a public place, and ask someone to meet you or stay on the phone while you travel.
  6. Put a practical barrier in place at your “fixed” locations today. If the encounters are linked to your workplace, gym, or apartment building, tell staff/management what’s been happening and ask for immediate measures (e.g., escort policy, not allowing unknown visitors through, documenting the person/vehicle description, saving relevant camera footage).
  7. Reduce easy digital tracking. Turn off unnecessary location sharing, review social media privacy, and change passwords for your email and key accounts (email first). If you suspect account/device access is compromised, use a different device/account to contact help.
  8. Report to law enforcement (emergency or non-emergency as appropriate). Explain the repeated “coincidental” encounters and why you’re concerned for your safety. Ask how to submit your log/evidence and request a report number.
  9. If you want legal distance, ask about a protective order in your area. Names and rules vary (restraining order, order of protection, stalking protective order). A concrete next step is to contact your local court clerk/self-help center or a local victim advocate to find the correct order type and filing route for your county.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether to move, change jobs, or relocate permanently.
  • You do not need to prove intent before seeking help; a documented pattern and your fear/safety concerns matter.
  • You do not need to contact the person or “get closure” to make your next steps valid.

Important reassurance

A series of “small” encounters can be scary precisely because each one seems explainable on its own. Writing things down, telling someone, and creating a record are calm, protective steps that don’t require you to solve the whole situation today.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise, reduce exposure, and create a usable record. Longer-term options (advocacy support, workplace/school accommodations, legal processes) can follow when you’re safer.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you feel at risk right now, prioritize immediate safety and contact emergency services.

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