- Mary Alice, 25, issued the warning after noticing a man outside her apartment
- She suggests that people not turn on their lights when they first enter their home
- The Chicago musician says this tactic helps when someone is watching you
A woman is warning people who live alone not to turn on their lights as soon as they get home, claiming it could be potentially unsafe.
Chicago musician Mary Alice posted a now-viral video to TikTok, detailing an incident that left her feeling deeply unsettled and unsafe.
In the minute-and-a-half long video, the 25-year-old explained why you shouldn’t immediately turn on the lights after entering your home, based on her own terrifying experience.
“Especially when people can see your apartment windows from the street,” Mary explained in her TikTok. “Because if someone follows you home, he/she will know which apartment you live in.”
Chicago musician Mary Alice posted a video to TikTok detailing an incident involving a man hanging around outside her apartment, which deeply disturbed her
After noticing that the man was looking at her, Mary suggested that you not turn on the lights in the apartment unless you were sure no one was looking.
Mary then described an incident that had occurred earlier that evening, saying that she noticed a man taking items out of his car at her apartment complex as she was getting out of hers.
“I had never seen him before when he was at my apartment complex this morning,” she explained in a video filming her bathroom. “He just made me feel bad.”
After she returned home that evening, she said the man approached her and tried to start a conversation with her about a broken headlight on her car.
‘(I said): ‘Oh yes, I know. I just have to get to it. Whatever,” she said dismissively.
After Mary entered her apartment, she didn’t immediately turn on her lights, but instead checked her Ring camera to see if it was nearby.
She was shocked to see him standing on the street, right in front of her building, staring at it, thinking he stood there for about five minutes.
“I mean, halfway through, he left the empty parking lot and hid behind a car, but he waited,” she continued.
“So now he knows what car I drive and where I live.”
Mary remembered checking her Ring camera to see if it was nearby after entering her apartment
TikTok users were left terrified by her story and many left suggestions for the young woman
Mary closed the chilling video with: “So don’t turn on your lights.’
In the caption, Mary said she was “so tired of feeling like prey.”
“My lights are only on in my bathroom now because it’s the only room I have without windows,” she added.
More than 20,000 people left comments on Mary’s TikTok warning, some with suggestions on how she could feel safer.
“Wow, I never thought about this,” one user commented. ‘Buying blackout curtains for the side of your apartment where it is visible from the street is also a good idea!’
‘Buy a light timer. Then they think your apartment is active 24/7, or they leave your lights on,” one TikTok user suggested.
Another responded, saying the scenario was a “new fear unlocked.”
“I’m sorry girl, stay safe,” they said.
“Great advice that I guarantee so many don’t think about,” someone else said. ‘I didn’t do that until you said something! Thank you!’