Staying Safe from Creepers?
MonkeyMel21
Posts: 2,396 Member
I've heard the best way to not make yourself a target is to mix up your routine (like what time you get to the gym, which days you go, etc), but that's hard to do when I work at the same time every morning and have a limited window of gym time. Some creeper this morning walked behind my car right as I parked and took a pic of my license plate and walked off. When I got inside another girl said that she had seen him walking around the parking lot (in the dark cause it was 5:30am) when she got there. The doors open at 5:15 every weekday morning. I mean, what are the chances that he was waiting for me to get there? But then why would he not at least wait till I got inside so I wouldn't have seen him?! I have a very, very popular car and color too, if that makes any difference. Anyway, what are ways that I can mix it up a bit that maybe I haven't thought about yet? I have pepper spray too, I'm definitely going to start carrying it in my hand to and from the gym and work. I hate this because I only work 2 blocks away from the gym and it's in the downtown area where there's a lot of homeless and low income housing (also a methadone clinic one block away). This has totally ruined my Monday morning 
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Replies
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First off, I would totally report this to the police as well as the gym staff. Making yourself a hard-target is a good idea, so parking close to the building in well-lit areas as well as going in/out of the building with others might be something you could pull off. Stay safe. That's very suspicious.13
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What did the gym say when you told them?
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I told the gym staff right away, that's when the other lady over heard. And I did call the cops, there is always a lot of suspicious activity like that in this area. This one just felt more personal and super creepy. The employee walked me out to my car too.8
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RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »What did the gym say when you told them?
Asked what color he was because there was a black man that had been out there several days before that they had to call the cops on. But this man was white. Then he gave me the non emergency police line. And he walked me to my car.
When the PT got there he told the other employee that there were two cop cars out there talking to someone (not sure who) so at least they responded but that guy was probably gone.2 -
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What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.0
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Park close to the building. Is there a different gym you could go to if this one is really in such a bad area?
Also, are you SURE he was taking a picture of your license plate? Not to be naive, but what why would someone even do that?1 -
Also, Have you phone out ready to take a picture of him! Sometime creeps like that will back off if they know you are ready and waiting for them.
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.
Remember - when seconds count Police are only minutes away!3 -
deluxmary2000 wrote: »Park close to the building. Is there a different gym you could go to if this one is really in such a bad area?
Also, are you SURE he was taking a picture of your license plate? Not to be naive, but what why would someone even do that?
Yeah, he was. Actually, I did get out of my car door and yelled asking him if he just took a pic of my license plate. He was quite a ways away but yelled back that Yes, he did take a pic and it's not illegal to do so. He said that someone with the same car has been harassing him. I said that I don't harass people and he replied that he doesn't take anyone's word for anything (at this point I got back in to my car and he said something else that I didn't hear and then walked behind the building). But....like....why were you waiting for me to get there though?
I have a few things I can do to change my routine up a bit, but I'm still a bit upset at this point.0 -
DetroitDarin wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.
Remember - when seconds count Police are only minutes away!
Oh I know. We had a dude come in to our office two months ago throwing cheese on the floor and claiming Isis sent him. Took the cops 15 minutes to get here
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »DetroitDarin wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.
Remember - when seconds count Police are only minutes away!
Oh I know. We had a dude come in to our office two months ago throwing cheese on the floor and claiming Isis sent him. Took the cops 15 minutes to get here
What?
Are they into food waste projects now?
Anyway - Glad I live in a quiet corner of the world!2 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »deluxmary2000 wrote: »Park close to the building. Is there a different gym you could go to if this one is really in such a bad area?
Also, are you SURE he was taking a picture of your license plate? Not to be naive, but what why would someone even do that?
Yeah, he was. Actually, I did get out of my car door and yelled asking him if he just took a pic of my license plate. He was quite a ways away but yelled back that Yes, he did take a pic and it's not illegal to do so. He said that someone with the same car has been harassing him. I said that I don't harass people and he replied that he doesn't take anyone's word for anything (at this point I got back in to my car and he said something else that I didn't hear and then walked behind the building). But....like....why were you waiting for me to get there though?
I have a few things I can do to change my routine up a bit, but I'm still a bit upset at this point.
He's unbalanced, be careful.2 -
Get that license to carry!2
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DedinTely carry! Also, check the laws for your area. Here (Washington) we can open carry and as long as it's visible you're ok. I open carry every single day. But the minute you conceal it, you're in trouble. Also, I believe Idaho just passed that you don't need a concealed weapon permit anymore.
As far as mixing up your routine, I'm not really sure. You have a little time that you can go, maybe take a different vehicle every once in a while?0 -
A little mace can go a long way. Just saying.2
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »deluxmary2000 wrote: »Park close to the building. Is there a different gym you could go to if this one is really in such a bad area?
Also, are you SURE he was taking a picture of your license plate? Not to be naive, but what why would someone even do that?
Yeah, he was. Actually, I did get out of my car door and yelled asking him if he just took a pic of my license plate. He was quite a ways away but yelled back that Yes, he did take a pic and it's not illegal to do so. He said that someone with the same car has been harassing him. I said that I don't harass people and he replied that he doesn't take anyone's word for anything (at this point I got back in to my car and he said something else that I didn't hear and then walked behind the building). But....like....why were you waiting for me to get there though?
I have a few things I can do to change my routine up a bit, but I'm still a bit upset at this point.
So someone was harassing him but he doesn't know who was doing the harassing? That makes no sense at all.
If it is something your worried about change your routine as you said, talk to the people running your gym, and/or call the authorities. Say, you are worried about the guy and tell them he took a picture of your license plate. Which may be considered stalking and is illegal. They may even tell him to stay the f away from you.
Kudos on calling him out on it too, its way too many times someone is doing creeper things in the gym and a female's reaction is a smile altho they aren't happy with what has transpired. I understand that reaction but its not teaching the guy anything, but if you were to go off on them even tho this may be out of character the guy will more than likely just leave you alone and stay away from you.1 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.
Yeah, put a sticker claiming you have your concealed carry on your car. He doesn't need to know it's not true.2 -
I know that this is after the fact, but it pays to have your phone out, taking a video of the creeper. When I am out in a place like that, I always have my phone in my hand, ready to go. I am so glad that I work out at the gym on a military base.0
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broseidonkingofbrocean wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »deluxmary2000 wrote: »Park close to the building. Is there a different gym you could go to if this one is really in such a bad area?
Also, are you SURE he was taking a picture of your license plate? Not to be naive, but what why would someone even do that?
Yeah, he was. Actually, I did get out of my car door and yelled asking him if he just took a pic of my license plate. He was quite a ways away but yelled back that Yes, he did take a pic and it's not illegal to do so. He said that someone with the same car has been harassing him. I said that I don't harass people and he replied that he doesn't take anyone's word for anything (at this point I got back in to my car and he said something else that I didn't hear and then walked behind the building). But....like....why were you waiting for me to get there though?
I have a few things I can do to change my routine up a bit, but I'm still a bit upset at this point.
So someone was harassing him but he doesn't know who was doing the harassing? That makes no sense at all.
If it is something your worried about change your routine as you said, talk to the people running your gym, and/or call the authorities. Say, you are worried about the guy and tell them he took a picture of your license plate. Which may be considered stalking and is illegal. They may even tell him to stay the f away from you.
Kudos on calling him out on it too, its way too many times someone is doing creeper things in the gym and a female's reaction is a smile altho they aren't happy with what has transpired. I understand that reaction but its not teaching the guy anything, but if you were to go off on them even tho this may be out of character the guy will more than likely just leave you alone and stay away from you.
No, it doesn't make sense. Especially hanging around in a dark parking lot for 20 minutes, then taking the picture as I'm parking so I see him instead of just waiting 2 minutes for me to go inside the building. He does not belong to the gym as far as I know though. The gym is in the upstairs of a plaza, adjacent to a hospital. There's about 10 businesses on the ground floor. It's a very popular area, gentrification at it's finest. Homeless sheltering under the bushes, while millionaires and doctors drive their Mercedes around.
I did call the police and the lady said an officer would come talk to me but that it is indeed not illegal (which I'm not concerned about the legality of it anyway, it's the reasoning behind it). No cop came to talk to me but they did drive by according to another employee.
Another person I talked to mentioned that the same sort of thing happened to a family member and there was a false claim made against them/the car. I guess I'd rather have that happen than be abducted
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This would be the time when I would wish for a really buff guy to have as a workout partner. I'd feel safe and secure
One night fairly late I decided to go to the gym. It's a 24 hour gym unstaffed. When I got out of my car I could smell cigar smoke but couldn't see anyone. That made me nervous as I was the only person at the gym. Unfortunately there are places someone could lurk so I got in quickly.
Stay safe!0 -
This would be the time when I would wish for a really buff guy to have as a workout partner. I'd feel safe and secure One night fairly late I decided to go to the gym. It's a 24 hour gym unstaffed. When I got out of my car I could smell cigar smoke but couldn't see anyone. That made me nervous as I was the only person at the gym. Unfortunately there are places someone could lurk so I got in quickly.
Stay safe!
I shouldn't laugh, but the employee that walked me to my car is handicapped (uses two hand held type crutches) and it was very nice that he did that but I don't know how much protection he would have been, lol.1 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »This would be the time when I would wish for a really buff guy to have as a workout partner. I'd feel safe and secure One night fairly late I decided to go to the gym. It's a 24 hour gym unstaffed. When I got out of my car I could smell cigar smoke but couldn't see anyone. That made me nervous as I was the only person at the gym. Unfortunately there are places someone could lurk so I got in quickly.
Stay safe!
I shouldn't laugh, but the employee that walked me to my car is handicapped (uses two hand held type crutches) and it was very nice that he did that but I don't know how much protection he would have been, lol.
Sometimes just not being alone is enough protection. Definitely keep your wits about you, having your phone in hand is a good idea, not sure a fake gun sticker would be a deterrent - what if he calls your bluff before you get to your non-existent gun? My paranoid brain wonders what kind of personal information he can get with your license plate. So glad you reported it, don't take anybody's crap.
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Reading stuff like that I'm very glad I live in a land with very low crime rate and no guns at all.7
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Reading stuff like that I'm very glad I live in a land with very low crime rate and no guns at all.
A firearm is one of the few tools that Equalize a fight between a 250 pound man and 120 pound woman.
Ohio, where I live, is Open Carry, and Concealed with permit, and unless I'm at work or church I have mine on me.5 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »DetroitDarin wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.
Remember - when seconds count Police are only minutes away!
Oh I know. We had a dude come in to our office two months ago throwing cheese on the floor and claiming Isis sent him. Took the cops 15 minutes to get here
Cheese? Really? What kind? If it's just mozzarella or Mascarpone, whatever, but Epoisses should be considered a bioweapon.2 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »DetroitDarin wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »What if I just get a bumper sticker that says "I'm packing" or something, lol. We have several guns, but do not have our concealed carry license.
Remember - when seconds count Police are only minutes away!
Oh I know. We had a dude come in to our office two months ago throwing cheese on the floor and claiming Isis sent him. Took the cops 15 minutes to get here
Cheese? Really? What kind? If it's just mozzarella or Mascarpone, whatever, but Epoisses should be considered a bioweapon.
I believe it was American cheese. So, no big loss there one way or the other.1 -
That's super creepy. I work in a sketchy part of town, and pepper spray doesn't make me feel safe enough so I carry a taser. They are pretty inexpensive to buy and they just make me feel safer. The sound that thing puts off would be enough to make any would be creep reconsider. So, maybe try that out until you can get a CC permit. You can always ask the staff to walk you out too.2
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »broseidonkingofbrocean wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »deluxmary2000 wrote: »Park close to the building. Is there a different gym you could go to if this one is really in such a bad area?
Also, are you SURE he was taking a picture of your license plate? Not to be naive, but what why would someone even do that?
Yeah, he was. Actually, I did get out of my car door and yelled asking him if he just took a pic of my license plate. He was quite a ways away but yelled back that Yes, he did take a pic and it's not illegal to do so. He said that someone with the same car has been harassing him. I said that I don't harass people and he replied that he doesn't take anyone's word for anything (at this point I got back in to my car and he said something else that I didn't hear and then walked behind the building). But....like....why were you waiting for me to get there though?
I have a few things I can do to change my routine up a bit, but I'm still a bit upset at this point.
So someone was harassing him but he doesn't know who was doing the harassing? That makes no sense at all.
If it is something your worried about change your routine as you said, talk to the people running your gym, and/or call the authorities. Say, you are worried about the guy and tell them he took a picture of your license plate. Which may be considered stalking and is illegal. They may even tell him to stay the f away from you.
Kudos on calling him out on it too, its way too many times someone is doing creeper things in the gym and a female's reaction is a smile altho they aren't happy with what has transpired. I understand that reaction but its not teaching the guy anything, but if you were to go off on them even tho this may be out of character the guy will more than likely just leave you alone and stay away from you.
No, it doesn't make sense. Especially hanging around in a dark parking lot for 20 minutes, then taking the picture as I'm parking so I see him instead of just waiting 2 minutes for me to go inside the building. He does not belong to the gym as far as I know though. The gym is in the upstairs of a plaza, adjacent to a hospital. There's about 10 businesses on the ground floor. It's a very popular area, gentrification at it's finest. Homeless sheltering under the bushes, while millionaires and doctors drive their Mercedes around.
I did call the police and the lady said an officer would come talk to me but that it is indeed not illegal (which I'm not concerned about the legality of it anyway, it's the reasoning behind it). No cop came to talk to me but they did drive by according to another employee.
Another person I talked to mentioned that the same sort of thing happened to a family member and there was a false claim made against them/the car. I guess I'd rather have that happen than be abducted
It sounds like you know he hasn't done anything illegal yet, and I agree with taking a picture of him, which you know is also legal. The idea that he might be trying to use the information for insurance fraud sounds the most plausible. I have a dashcam on my car and they are relatively inexpensive these days. You might consider getting one so you can dispute any claim someone would make with actual video footage. Plus, I've noticed that the dash cam acts as a deterrent when parked because people can see it through the windshield. They don't realize it is only turned on when the key is on; they see the camera and think they are being recorded, and they tend to be on their best behavior.0
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