- Mary Alice, 25, issued the warning after noticing a man outside her apartment
- She suggests that people not turn on the lights when they first enter their homes
- The Chicago musician says this tactic helps when someone is watching you
A woman is warning people living alone not to turn on the lights as soon as they get home, claiming it may be unsafe.
Chicago musician Mary Alice posted a now-viral video on TikTok in which she describes an incident that left her deeply unsettled and insecure.
In the minute and a half video, the 25-year-old explained, based on her own frightening experience, why you shouldn’t turn on the lights immediately after entering the house.
“Especially when people can see your apartment windows from the street,” Mary explained in her TikTok. “Because if someone follows you home, they will know which apartment you live in.”
Chicago musician Mary Alice posted a video on TikTok detailing an incident in which a man was loitering outside her apartment, which left her deeply unsettled
After noticing the man watching them, Mary suggested not turning on any lights in the apartment unless you were sure no one was watching
Mary then described an incident that had occurred earlier in the evening, saying she noticed a man grabbing items from his car at her apartment complex as she was getting out of her car.
“I had never seen him before this morning when he was in the area of my apartment complex,” she explained in a video she filmed in her bathroom. “He just gave me a bad vibe.”
When she got 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 yeah, I know. I just have to get to it. Whatever,” she said dismissively.
After entering her apartment, Mary didn’t immediately turn on the lights, but instead checked her Ring camera to see if he was nearby.
To her horror, she saw him standing on the street right in front of her building, staring at it. She estimated he stayed there for about five minutes.
“I mean, about halfway there he left the empty parking lot and hid behind a car, but he waited to see,” she continued.
“So now he knows what car I drive and where I live.”
Mary remembered using her Ring camera to check if he was nearby after she entered her apartment
TikTok users were shocked by her story and many left suggestions for the young woman
Mary concluded the scary video by saying, “So don’t turn on the lights.”
In the caption, Mary said she was “so sick of feeling like prey.”
“My light only stays on in my bathroom now because it’s the only room I have that doesn’t have windows,” she added.
More than 20,000 people left comments on Mary’s TikTok warning, some with suggestions for how she could feel safer.
“Wow, I never thought about that,” one user responded. “It’s also a good idea to install blackout curtains on the side of your home that is visible from the street!”
“Get a light timer. Then they’ll think your apartment is occupied 24/7 or leave the lights on,” one TikTok user suggested.
Another responded, saying the scenario was a “new fear being unleashed.”
“I’m sorry girls, stay safe,” they said.
“Amazing advice that so many people definitely don’t think about,” raved another. “I didn’t do that until you said something! Thank you very much!”
A 25-year-old woman issues chilling warnings to women living alone, telling them to turn off the lights when they return home – after making a shocking discovery on her doorbell camera