What should you do if someone follows you while walking?
If someone seems to be following you on a walk, cross the street or step into a shop and watch whether they wait or follow. Walk with purpose toward lit, busy places and other people. Do not head home. If they keep coming, get close, or you feel unsafe, call 911 and describe where you are. Tapping SOS in Holler lets your Guardians see your live location while you get to safety.
Steps to take right away
01Confirm it without turning around to face them
On a walk you move slowly enough that anyone behind you will naturally stay behind you for a while. Use shop windows or a parked car's reflection to check. Cross the road or pause to look at a menu board. Someone who stops when you stop is worth taking seriously.
02Step inside somewhere staffed
A pharmacy, restaurant or hotel lobby is a far better place to wait than the sidewalk. Tell a staff member you think a person is following you and ask to stay for a few minutes. Most people will help, and a staffed room with cameras ends most follows.
03If there is nowhere to go in, change direction toward people
Turn back the way you came, toward the busier street, or join a group waiting at a bus stop. Walk briskly with your head up. Keep your phone in your hand so you can call quickly, but avoid staring at the screen.
04Call 911 early rather than late
Call if the person closes in, speaks threateningly, or is still behind you after two changes of direction. Lead with where you are: the street, the nearest cross street or a business name. Then: "Someone has followed me for three blocks, they're about twenty feet behind me." Add a short description and stay on the line while you walk to the busiest spot you can reach.
05Send an SOS to your Guardians
In Holler, SOS notifies your Guardians with your location, and they can watch your live location link in any browser without installing anything. A Guardian on the phone with you can stay with you while you walk. Holler never places the 911 call, so make it yourself if you are in danger.
06Report it once you are home safe
Even if the person drifted away, call the police non-emergency line with the time, place and description. If it happened near your building, tell the front desk or your landlord. A follower who picks the same street again is easier to stop when someone already knows about the first time.
Related questions
What if I am not sure and do not want to overreact?
Going into a shop or crossing the street costs you a minute, so there is no downside to acting on a hunch. Dispatchers would rather hear from you and find nothing than hear about you later. Trust the uneasy feeling.
Should I call a friend instead of 911?
If you feel threatened, call 911 first. For milder unease, calling a friend and talking loudly about where you are and who is meeting you can help, and your friend can follow your live link at the same time. Our guide on how to be a good safety contact is worth sending them.
Does a regular walking route make me easier to follow?
It can. Walking the same loop at the same time each day makes you predictable. Change the start time and direction now and then, and see our tips for walking alone at night for route choices that keep people around you.
What if I can't talk on the phone safely?
Text 911 if your area supports it; a voice call is better when possible, and you'll get an automatic bounce-back message if texting isn't available. Put your location in the first text. On an iPhone, Emergency SOS starts a call from the side buttons, and afterward it texts your emergency contacts your location.
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Sources, checked September 2026: Alexandria (Indiana) Police Department: Personal safety tips, Apple Support: Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone, Wikipedia: Text-to-911 (availability, FCC registry, bounce-back messages), NYC Text-to-911: call if you can, text if you can't.
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