‘I was so nervous’: Woman notices 2 men on their phones at Target, then watches them split up around her. So she makes an unusual request to security
Better safe than sorry.
A woman recently faced an unnerving experience during a morning trip to Target. She noticed two men acting strangely, which ultimately led her to make a request that she later admitted felt unusual. America Grace, who posts under the handle @americagracee on TikTok, shared her experience in a video that has since racked up over 2.1 million views.
She was at the store at 9 a.m. to pick up some work supplies when she spotted two men who appeared to be on their phones. As she moved through the aisles, the men seemed to split up and position themselves around her. This deliberate movement triggered a deep sense of unease. She captured the moment on video, including the interaction where she approached a store employee.
“Can I be really crazy? Will you walk out to the car with me? Only because there were these, like, two guys that were kind of, like, following around,” she asked the worker. Her voice was clearly shaky, and she spent much of the exchange apologizing and questioning her own judgment. She told the employee, “I could be, like, totally wrong, but better safe than sorry.” The employee agreed to help her immediately.
Grace’s caption really hits home about why she felt the need to share her experience
She wrote, “I was SO nervous to ask someone to walk me out but I know I’d rather ask than have a situation escalate.” She also noted that she had recently seen a story about another woman being cornered by two men. That content, which she found on social media, helped her realize that trusting her gut was more important than avoiding an awkward conversation.
This isn’t an isolated incident for women. Upworthy details the terrifying experience of another TikTok user Ariya Marie. Marie, @thatasiangirl2000 on TikTok, shared a similar experience on June 7, 2026. She was at Target to pick up a prescription when she noticed three men following her. Marie had been followed to that location multiple times before, so she was already on high alert.
She spotted a man in a blue shirt who wasn’t shopping but was instead focused on his phone. Soon, she noticed two others she said were keeping tabs on her movements. Marie alerted the store staff, and their intervention confirmed her fears. When the workers walked her to her car, the men immediately fled the area. One had been standing at the door while the others pretended to use the ATM.
Their quick exit once the staff arrived suggests that they knew exactly what they were doing. Marie suspected a trafficking attempt, and her story highlights why vigilance is so important in public spaces. According to the Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center, about 13.5 million people in the United States are stalked every year. With statistics showing that one in three women experiences this, it’s clear that these instincts are often well-founded.
The comments show just how many people have dealt with similar scenarios
One commenter, Sarah, told Grace, “I hate that you had to keep saying ‘I could be totally wrong’ when being concerned for your safety. Don’t ever feel guilty for taking your safety seriously.” Another user shared a wild story about asking a 7/11 worker for an escort, only to find out the man making them feel unsafe was the employee’s boyfriend. It’s a stark reminder that you really have to look out for yourself.
A user who went by Iced_haterade added , “My husband and I absolutely did this for a girl at Walmart once! She was like “this probably sounds crazy…” nope absolutely not!”
Many users reassured Grace that she had nothing to apologize for. La said, “Girl please stop apologizing. You felt unsafe and asked for help. Women die bc they are worried about being rude.”
Grace’s video is a great example of how to handle these moments. She didn’t just stay silent out of fear of being perceived as rude or problematic. Instead, she chose to prioritize her safety, even while she felt guilty about the possibility of accusing someone wrongly. Her video serves as a solid reminder that store staff are there to help, and asking for an escort is a perfectly reasonable safety measure.
Trust your gut, always
If you ever find yourself in a store and feel like you’re being followed, don’t talk yourself out of it. Whether you’re at a big box store or a local shop, your intuition is a powerful tool. It’s always better to feel a little embarrassed for asking for help than to let a potentially dangerous situation escalate. As the commenters on these posts keep saying, you shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to get to your car safely.
Social media plays a huge role in helping people learn how to handle these threats. By sharing these unpolished, vulnerable moments, creators like Grace and Marie are normalizing the act of asking for help. They’re turning personal scares into practical advice for everyone else.
If you ever need to ask a worker to walk you out, just do it. There’s no shame in wanting to make sure you get home in one piece. Your safety is worth far more than the comfort of a stranger who might be making you feel uneasy. Always listen to your gut, lock your doors, and get yourself to a safe place.
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