Follow homes – Do you have a plan?

These days criminals are so professional at what they do, you will probably not even realise that you are being followed.

Police make arrest. File image

We read about follow homes from shopping centres, schools and airports all the time but do you have a plan if this happens to you?

Stuart Clarkson, Fidelity ADT’s executive manager said it is important to know what to look out for.

These days criminals are so professional at what they do, you will probably not even realise that you are being followed.

What are the signs to look out for?

Remember you need to be alert at all times and never get distracted with cellphones or children in the car. Regularly check in your rear view mirror and around you if stopped at a stop street or robot for any suspicious vehicles. Remember there could be more people involved than just the ones following you. Technology has made it possible for multiple people to communicate and talk about your moves.
If the one stops, another may just take over from them, so don’t let down your guard and get distracted.
They will probably drive past you a few times, then change lanes and fall back again when you least expect it.

What to do then if you have established that you are being followed:

Make sure you have an emergency number on your phone, you need to know who you want to phone in an emergency and dial that number immediately. Clarkson said if possible let somebody know that you are being followed and try and give them as much information as possible. Ask them to alert 10111.
Try to keep as calm as possible and say focused on getting to a safe place.
Do not try and communicate with that vehicle in any way.
Slow down – it is harder to follow somebody that is driving slowly but just keep moving.
Turn your radio down so you are fully aware of your surroundings.
Put you headlights on bright and put your hazards on, day or night as you want to attract as much attention as possible and scare away the would-be hijackers.
Do not go home – don’t show them where you live.
Head for a busy place if possible like 24-hour garages, a hospital, a police station etc where it is more difficult to follow you in and where there may be surveillance cameras.

“At the end of the day staying alert is probably the most important tip.

“Too often we are distracted which makes us vulnerable to criminal activity,” said Clarkson.