Recognising When Your Vehicle Is Being Followed

Shortly after 11:00 PM on June 2, 2026, a 22-year-old man and his 20-year-old companion were driving a white Hyundai H100 along Eastern Main Road near Tyre Track, Petit Bourg, when a black Toyota Corolla pulled up behind them. Two armed suspects exited and approached; one pointed a firearm and announced a robbery, taking a phone and the vehicle’s keys before forcing the female occupant out. The men then drove away in the H100. The pair in the Corolla had been following the H100 deliberately — selecting it as a target, tracking its route, and choosing the moment to stop it. Victims in this pattern rarely have any warning because they are not watching for a trailing vehicle. By the time the following car pulls alongside or forces a stop, the element of surprise has been lost and options are sharply reduced. Recognising the surveillance while it is still happening is the only point at which you can change the outcome.

Steps to follow:

• Make a conscious habit of checking your mirrors every minute or two, particularly on late-night or low-traffic routes; note any vehicle that appears in your mirrors consistently over two or three turns or direction changes.
• If you suspect a vehicle is following you, do not drive home — doing so reveals your address and leads pursuers to an isolated endpoint; instead, drive toward a police station, a busy petrol station, or a well-lit commercial area with other people present.
• Call 999 while still driving; describe your location, vehicle, the suspected following vehicle, and your direction of travel — do not pull over to make the call.
• Test whether you are actually being followed by making a deliberate, unnecessary turn; if the vehicle behind you makes the same turn when there is no obvious reason to, treat it as confirmed and immediately change your destination.
• Do not stop in response to bumper-tapping, horn-sounding, or hand signals from an unknown following vehicle — these are common tactics used to force a stop in an isolated spot; drive to a populated location first and assess from there.
• If forced to stop and confronted by armed individuals, comply without resistance — surrender the vehicle, keys, and any valuables demanded; the vehicle is traceable and recoverable, and your physical safety is not.