This is more of a vent than anything but this happened last night and honestly I'm still pretty shaken up and mad over it.
I went out for a walk late last night (about 9:30-10pm) as I normally do when I have a lot on my mind. I was staying with a relative, they live in a decent-ish neighborhood and I have never experienced anything like this here before so it made it even more of a shock that this happened, plus I never go out within a five minute radius of the place of residence at this time of night for safety reasons.
I was walking around the area, was about ten minutes into the walk when I decided to sit on a bench for a breather. This car slowly drives by and approaches a parking space, but then exits it and just... stays right in front of me. I felt pretty uncomfortable and got up from the bench. Then the car started slowly following me.
I was practically shitting myself at that point and began walking faster, the car caught up with me and the driver rolled down the window and asked me if I was alright, saying I look lost, if I live in the area etc. I told him I was fine, that I live nearby. He asked me which house I lived in. I obviously refused to answer and just repeated that I lived nearby (again, a lie but I wasn't telling this creepy man anything about me). He told me that I was lying, that I don't live in the area, and I just repeated that I do and began to walk in the opposite direction. The car kept driving in the direction I was originally walking in and I thought that was it, but then he made a U-turn and continued to follow me.
After that I ran back to my relative's house and immediately locked the door behind. I don't think he saw which house I went into but I've been pretty shaken up since.
Why do creeps have to exist in the world.
Thank you. I definitely won't be going out that late anymore especially not in that area. I agree that he almost 100% had worse motives. I've been harassed in public before but my fight or flight response has never kicked in like it did last night, it was honestly scary.
I'm not sure reporting the incident to the police would do anything though, I live in one of the worst countries for violence against women, cases of police officers assaulting women and getting let off with a slap on the wrist are far too common and the government refuses to legalise any kind of self-defence item.
That's sometimes called "the gift of fear" and it's an instinct that more often than not is accurate and protects you. Trust it.
You'd want a record to exist either way, in case he reappears to you or any other woman.
I don't know about reporting especially given what you've said about the local conditions. personally I'm not gonna risk contact with the police unless absolutely necessary