Followed at midday yesterday. East dulwich to Forest Hill

[Bellenden Belle]

I was followed by a man in a car yesterday. It started at the bus stop outside the Co-op funeral parlour, opposite Iceland. A man was parked in the side road - Shawbury Road I think - and kept making gestures with his head to come over. I thought it was odd and a bit creepy but ignored it.

I then got on the bus and thought nothing more of it. I travelled to Forest Hill. A fairly long bus journey. I got off the bus, walked a little way, taking a fair bit of time as I was trying to work out my bearings as I was going to a new address, went to cross the road and there he was, parked in his car, hanging out the window.'You crossing the road then?'

I turned and backtracked, crossing the busy main road instead at which point he drove away.

I don't know what was behind it. The fact I was pushing a two year old asleep in a pram added to the creepiness of the situation. It seems an elaborate way to go about a mugging.

I'm fine and when I get a chance I will report it to the neighbourhood team.

[the-e-dealer]

Can you describe either the car or man so we can be careful?

[Bellenden Belle]

The car was silver. I don't drive and just don't register makes - I wish I'd grabbed the numberplate but I just wanted to get away,

The man was probably in his late 30s. Stocky. Olive skinned with dark hair - Southern Mediterranean appearnance.

[JohnL]

Would any agency (DWP etc.) have any reason to follow you - sounds to professional - I couldn't follow like that.

DWP followed a work colleague in the most horrible manner a few years back - and then confronted him with photos of himself.

Mind, coincidences/correlations happen too (and have spooked me until I've started thinking about it)

[the-e-dealer]

Would the DWP or any proffessional agency signal to come over ? I don't really think so that would be a give away!

[jimbo1964]

Horrible. Definitely report it.

[JohnL]

That's truly weird.

Wondered if it was a PI with a twitch.

the-e-dealer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Would the DWP or any proffessional agency signal

> to come over ? I don't really think so that would

> be a give away!

[Bellenden Belle]

The odd thing was that I did think that he was an investigator of some kind when I was at the bus stop and just presumed his interest wasn't in me at all and that I was just being paranoid.

But no, I am as straight as a die, and can think of absolutely no reason why any one would ever want to investigate me for any reason. Definitely not the DWP.

It just makes no sense. If I hadn't had a two-year-old with me I would be more worried. But following a bus? I can only think that seeing that I showed discomfort at being watched and beckoned at one stop, he got a kick out of further scaring me....

[Strawbs]

Sorry to hear that BB that's bloody frightening! Defo report it. Hope you are ok. Xxx

[Otta]

Oh yuck, that's horrible. And bloody brazen!

[Penguin68]

It is possible that you were followed in error (mistaken for someone else) - but the fact that the follower gestured to you, and later spoke, makes it very unlikely that this was any form of undercover work, even in error. I would definitely report this now (to create a time-line and history), and if you see the person again, call the police immediately.

It is possible that this person is a stalker, some of whom are able to make up imaginary (to them real) relationships with their victims. Nip this in the bud, quick.

[MelonSmasher]

you know what, why not try and follow up on local cctv esp at the station and the pub opposite if they have any? scum like this deserves to be locked up for making people feel that uncomfortable, its beyond me how these animals live their lives. Don't let it faze you and more importantly be aware.

[phobic3000]

Creepy - sounds like he was getting a kick out of scaring you.