As a safety precaution, a woman warns other apartment dwellers to wait a few minutes before turning their lights on.
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Mary Alice explained in a TikTok video about her experience dealing with a stranger who stood outside her apartment complex last month. In the video, she said something was off when she didn’t recognize the man after she approached her when she parked her car. “When I got home tonight, I got out of my car. And there was a man getting s— out of his car; I had never seen him before this morning when he was in my apartment complex area,” Mary Alice explained, as the New York Post reported.
@heyitsmaryalice im so tired of feeling like prey !! my lights are only on in my bathroom now becauase its the only room i have with no windows #creepy #creepystory #womensafety #womensafetytips #storytime #scarystory #stalker #menarescary #apartmentsafety ♬ original sound – mary alice 🤍
She added that the man tried to talk with her about one of her headlights being out, but she told him that she’d fix the issue later. The next few minutes frightened Mary Alice as she noticed the man staring at her building through her Ring doorbell:“I go inside. Don’t turn the lights on, but I have a feeling to check my Ring camera. He’s standing in the street, which is very close to my apartment building. Staring at my building. And he did not leave for like five minutes.”
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Mary Alice said the man reportedly moved behind a car in an empty parking space while continuing to stare at her apartment building for a few more minutes.
“He waited to see. So, now he knows what car I drive and where I live, but not my apartment.Don’t turn your lights on.”
The video reached more than 3 million likes, 202, 100 shares, and 17,000 comments on TikTok.
Other women also commented and thanked Mary Alice for her advice because it was something many didn’t even consider to think about. One user wrote, “Amazing advice, that I guarantee so many don’t think about…. I didn’t until you said something! Thank you!”
Another said, “Get timers for your lamps and radios. You can make it look like you don’t live alone.”
““He gave me bad vibes or whatever.” BELIEVE THAT INSTINCT! Always! Be safe and well ❤️❤️❤️”
“Please make sure for the next week you switch up your schedule and don’t return home at the same time multiple days in a row ❤️stay safe!”
“I literally fear for my life all day. I can’t even handle a car being behind me on a open road for too long I’ll go another way.”
“Life hack, don’t turn your lights off at all! Lol never walking into a dark room and always seem like you’re home”