If You're Being Followed, Call Authorities: Toms River Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- If you are being followed in a store or parking lot, please don't post it on Facebook -- call the police.

That is a message the Toms River Police Department is trying to get out in the wake of a spate of posts authorities have seen on social media where people have posted about concerns of being targeted, police said.

"We've seen several posts in the last week about people feeling uncomfortable in stores or parking lots but not one mentions calling the police," police said in a post on Facebook. "If someone is making you feel unsafe you need to protect yourself, your family and other potential victims by alerting authorities."

Toms River Police Department spokesman Ralph Stocco said that while there have been several postings on social media about incidents, none of them have been substantiated.

Calling the police should be the first thing you do if you believe you are being followed and are in danger, police and safety experts say. Dial 911.

Safewise offers these tips on what to do if you think you're being followed but are not sure:

• Keep calm. You need to be able to think clearly in an emergency to avoid knee-jerk reactions that could pu you in danger.
• Go to or stay in a public place with lots of people around. If someone is considering a crime, the last thing they want is lots of witnesses.
• Pay attention. Don't have your head buried in your phone as you walk around; watch what's going on around you. Keep an eye out for things that are out of place. Make note of pedestrians you pass, especially if someone pops up repeatedly. Look for cars making all the same turns you’re making.
• If you're at the mall or a store and feel unsafe in the parking lot, go back into the store and alert authorities. If you return to your car, make sure you aren’t walking alone. Speak with a security guard and ask them to walk you to your car. Be sure to check inside and under the car before you get in and always keep your doors locked.

If you see something or someone suspicious, your first call always should be to authorities. Let them investigate the situation.

Image by Thomas Leuthard, via Flickr under Creative Commons license