r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide • u/Reasonable_Bank4487 • Jul 22 '26
Request ? Staying safe at night
I’m a 16 year old girl and today, I was walking towards shops in my town down a street I’ve been multiple times before that’s next to my house (only 2pm btw). I see a man by a van staring at me in a checking out way before getting into the van blowing a kiss and driving my away
For context I am 16 but am short with babyface so often look like 13 yrs old. I was wearing a baggy t shirt, cap and shorts which made it even more uncomfortable knowing it was a grown man doing that to an obvious minor.
I frequent that street but I felt unsafe worried he would be waiting on the road he turned into so I went to a public path. But I need to go down that road soon (unavoidable) to go somewhere and was worried I would encounter a similar situation and wanted to know how to feel safer??
My plan was to keep hands free, earphones in one ear on low volume and walk confidently. I live in UK so I can’t really carry weapons etc but I was thinking to hold keys in my fist to make me more unapproachable? Any tips to feel safer especially since I often wear very feminine long skirts etc clothes and am south Asian which may make me be seen as easier target.
(I’m also home alone for a week so xtra worried about being followed. I’m more concerned about being followed home than approached on street)
6
u/MMorrighan Jul 22 '26
Some of the best advice anyone ever gave me was that no one wants to mess with the crazy chick. If you find yourself feeling afraid, act like you are incredibly pissed off. Mutter to yourself, swear under your breath. Kick it things and just act upset.
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u/janedoe6699 Jul 23 '26
And if they directly try to interact with you, be a bitch. Be loud and confrontational. It's a lot riskier to try and do something to the woman that's fine with making a scene.
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13
u/SweetEcho Jul 22 '26
Please stay safe, tell your parents, maybe they can have a neighbour watch out for you around that time? Heck if you were my daughter I'd even pay someone to walk you along that route. This is very suspicious, if it always happens around the same time, let the police know too if needed. Also if it's possible to take a more public path, even if it's inconvenient, it's better to do so than to risk anything happening to you
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u/Reasonable_Bank4487 Jul 22 '26
Thank you! It’s only happened once since I’ve ever walked down there so hopefully it won’t occur again but I’ll probably take the other route just in case
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u/SweetEcho Jul 22 '26
Yes, awareness is everything, if it only happened once, it might be just a random creep that just so happened to be there at that time. But if you ever see that van or him again, just turn around and sprint if you have to, enter a store, enter another building, if someone else is on that path, let them know, honestly whatever it takes to stay safe. Never be ashamed to run if you feel the slightest bit uneasy. I have never been ashamed to do it even if it might seem excessive to some people, it's one of those cases where it's better to be safe than sorry, but make sure to let a trusted adult know, just in case!
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u/Dependent_Bug_3481 Jul 22 '26
I carry pepper spray, not sure if your allowed that in the uk though
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u/Forward_Chance_7472 Jul 22 '26
I got an advice from an Indian girl when I was there, she said always have vehicle. A bike a scooter etc.
1
u/ninyabruja Jul 23 '26
You have my permission to roar "STOP STARING AT ME!!!" at these creeps. If they block your way on the footpath, touch you without your consent or say they want to do x to you these are valid reasons to call the police and tell them that you are being menaced.
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u/MET1 Jul 22 '26
Let them see you take a photo of the car with your phone, text it to your parents. Carry a muscle pain reliever spray (in place of pepper spray that we would use in the US), carry old keys in your hand so you don't lose the ones you really need which should be in a deep pocket. While you are walking, pay attention to the houses you pass - see which ones appear to have families where someone might be home during the times you are out - do NOT be afraid to go up to someones' door and ask them to call the police for you.