The Follow-Home Robbery: What You Need to Know

Protecting Your Family from a Follow Home Robbery

A growing threat is creeping through neighborhoods across America — and it doesn’t discriminate between bustling cities, quiet suburbs, or rural towns. It’s a type of crime that isn’t new, but it’s gaining ground, visibility, and followers: the follow-home robbery.

Just thinking about this kind of crime makes my blood boil. It’s invasive. It’s dangerous. And it’s targeting everyday people like us doing everyday things.

What Is a Follow-Home Robbery?

The term is as literal as it sounds. Criminals select a target in a public place — often at a store, mall, or bank — and then follow that person to their residence. Once the victim exits their vehicle and is most vulnerable, the criminals strike.

While robbery is the most common motive, follow-home crimes can also involve kidnapping, sexual assault, or worse. In this article, we’ll focus on robbery, but many of the protective steps apply to the broader threat landscape as well.

Who Gets Targeted — And Why?

The good news is, follow-home victims usually aren’t chosen at random. You’re unlikely to be picked just because you sat in traffic too long. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the radar entirely.

Criminals look for opportunity. They choose people based on what they buy, what they wear, and even what they drive. Think of it this way: if a thief is casing a store and sees someone walk out with expensive electronics, luxury goods, or even ammo — they may see a target with a high reward-to-risk ratio.

It’s not about fairness. It’s about perceived vulnerability and gain. The bad guys are profiling you, calculating how much effort it will take to attack you versus what they’ll get in return.

And here’s the kicker: with more of these crimes being caught on video and shared across social media, would-be attackers are seeing just how effective this method is — and copying it. What works in one city can quickly go viral, spreading tactics far and wide.

Protecting Your Family in Public Spaces

This type of crime often begins in retail environments. As parents, we’re in and out of stores all the time — grabbing groceries, picking up birthday presents, shopping for holidays. But how often do we think about how those items might look to someone watching?

High-value purchases can paint a target on your back. A gaming console, a piece of jewelry, or even a bag from a luxury store can make you appear affluent and unaware. That’s when the targeting starts.

Situational awareness is your best first defense. Take note of who’s near you multiple times while shopping. If you notice someone hovering around the same departments or aisles, or standing near you in checkout and then trailing you to your car — trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.

Watch for recurring faces not just in one store, but across multiple stops. If you go from one store to another — and someone keeps showing up without buying anything — it’s time to act.

Call 911. Report your suspicion clearly. Say you’re concerned someone is following you, describe them, and explain the locations where you’ve seen them and that they are not shopping, just observing. That’s real, actionable intelligence for law enforcement.

Recognizing You’re Being Followed — On the Road

The second phase of a follow-home crime is just that — the “follow home.”

This part is tough. If you’re driving, trying to keep kids entertained, passing out snacks, and managing traffic, tracking whether someone is tailing you isn’t easy.

But if you think a car is following you from a shopping center or bank, don’t go home. Instead, start a series of moves to test them. Loop around a few blocks. Pull into a public parking lot and sit. Then leave suddenly. If they’re still behind you — it’s a sign.

Call 911 immediately. Say that you believe someone has followed you from a public location. Tell them what kind of car it is, how long they’ve been behind you, and that you’re concerned for your safety and that of your children. Ask to meet an officer or drive to the nearest police station.

The Most Dangerous Moment: Getting Out of the Car

Let’s say you didn’t notice anyone following you. That’s entirely possible. Some of these criminals work in teams. One might watch you in the store, while another waits in the parking lot, ready to trail you home without detection.

Now you’re at your house — and the attackers strike when you least expect it. That moment when you get out of your vehicle is one of the most vulnerable.

If you have a garage, use it. And don’t unlock the car until the garage door is all the way down. This gives you privacy and security to unload your family and belongings without being exposed.

If your garage is packed with storage, it’s time to clean it out. Your safety outweighs the inconvenience of finding a new place for the ping-pong table.

No garage? If you park on the street or driveway, do a full scan before you exit. Look for unfamiliar vehicles, people sitting in running cars, or anything out of place. If something seems off, get back in your car and leave.

And if the attack starts while you’re outside your home — get in your car, start it, and drive away. If they try to block you in, hit their car. Get that vehicle moving, even if it means jumping a curb or driving across your lawn. Your safety is more important than property.

Once you’re out of the situation, call 911 and report what happened in detail.

Other Follow Home Attacks: Banks and Cars

Follow-home crimes don’t just start in retail stores. Banks are another hot spot.

If you’re making a withdrawal, especially one with cash in hand, go directly home or to your office. Don’t make pit stops at gas stations or coffee shops. Criminals know people exiting a bank may be carrying something of value — and parking lots are prime ambush zones.

Driving a high-value vehicle? That could also make you a target. Cars like Hellcats, Teslas, or luxury BMWs can be stolen in a flash when you step away. Criminals can attack you for the keys, get in, and be gone before you can respond.

Taking Action

Follow-home robberies are dynamic. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to staying safe, and there are a lot of moving parts — people, vehicles, timing, and location. But the more we stay aware and present, the better our chances of avoiding these crimes entirely.

• Be aware of what you buy and how you carry it.

• Watch your surroundings, especially in parking lots.

• Don’t ignore that gut feeling — trust it.

• Pay attention to vehicles behind you.

• Don’t go home if you think you’re being followed.

• Secure your garage and make sure it’s usable.

• Stay mobile and call for help if anything seems wrong.

You don’t have to be a spy or a superhero to protect your family — you just need to be informed, observant, and ready to act.

Watch: Surviving a Follow-Home Robbery