A TikToker has revealed why women living alone shouldn't turn on the lights immediately when they come home in an effort to make them more aware of their surroundings.
Taking to TikTok, Mary Alice (also known by her username @heyitsmaryalice) had some simple but essential advice for those women that live alone.
Most people, when arriving home in the dark, would instinctively reach for the light switch the second they open the door, to allow themselves to see where they're going within their homes.
However, keeping the lights off for a little while could actually be more beneficial for your safety, as Mary Alice explained.
"When you go home at night, don't turn your lights on immediately when you get inside your apartment especially if people can see the windows of your apartment from the street," she told her followers. "Because if someone’s following you home, they’re gonna know what apartment you live in."
She then recalled a frightening incident that happened to her that night, stating that she was on the way home but as she got out of her vehicle, a strange man tried to talk to her about a headlight that wasn't working.
"I'd never seen him before... and he just gave me bad vibes," she continued. "He tries to make conversation with me about my headlight because it's out and I'm just like 'yeah, yeah, I'll get round to it...'"
She then said that she left and went into her apartment and didn't turn her light on because she had a feeling that he was waiting outside.
"I had a feeling to check my Ring camera," she explains before taking a long pause and then continuing: "He's standing in the street which is very close to my apartment building staring at [the] building. And he did not leave for like five minutes.
"I mean like halfway through he left the empty spot and hid behind a car," she adds, "but he waited to see. So now he knows what car I drive and where I live, just not my apartment. So don't turn your lights on."
Since it was posted, the video has been watched over 10 million times.
Thousands of women headed to the comment section to express their opinions on the matter.
"Great advice but I'm scared of the dark," wrote one user, while another praised Mary Alice as "smart", thanking her for sharing the suggestion.
Another TikToker stated that the ordeal must have been "so scary," saying that women should "always trust your gut, I swear it's always right."
"Im gunna be so [for real]. I'm so scared to live alone," this user stated, which is the unfortunate reality for a lot of others too.
Others also offered their own advice.
"Get timers for your lamps and radios. You can make it look like you don't live alone," wrote this person while another commented: "I turn mine on with Alexa before I get home."
In a follow-up video, Mary Alice confirmed that she did tell her family and her landlord about the incident and ended up finding out that the man lived in her building too, though he's moving out now.
She also confirmed that she is fine and her apartment is secure.
