The Carbondale Police Department has recently received several reports of people being followed when walking or biking in Carbondale. These reports have been thoroughly investigated but no evidence has been found to support there was any malicious intent.
The Carbondale Police Department reminds everyone to be safe when walking alone with these tips:
Avoid walking alone whenever possible. Having other people nearby is a great defense.
Be alert, especially when you’re alone, walk confidently and at a steady pace. Be aware of who is around you.
Avoid poorly lit places, vacant lots or buildings.
Do not hitchhike.
Be careful when people in a car stop and ask you for directions. Always reply from a distance; never get too close to the car.
If you are under attack, yell “CALL 911”. It is natural to want to yell “help!” but this is not the best thing to say. Many people are not quick to act when they hear help. Instead yell “call 911 a girl/guy is being attacked by [briefly describe the attacker; male, female, number of people, race, size, clothing].” Keep yelling the same thing over and over. Yell as loud as you can. Scream. Be noisy. This alone may spook off the attacker.
If you think you are being followed, call 911 immediately. If you think you have been followed, please report the instance to the Carbondale Police Department at 970-963-2662, or your local police or sheriff’s department.
For more information contact Police Chief Gene Schilling at 970-963-2662 or eks@carbondaleco.net
