Female Runner Said Male Followed Her On Batavia Bike Path: Police

BATAVIA, IL — The Batavia Police said an incident was reported to them Wednesday regarding a female who was running alone and had an unsettling encounter with an unknown male at 5:20 p.m. on the bike path north of the Houston and Water Street intersection. According to police, the female subject stated she believed the male subject was following her. Police said she ran away from the area, contacted the Batavia Police Department and provided a vague description of a male, possibly white, tall, with dark hair.

Police said officers immediately responded to the area and were unable to locate the described male, and unfortunately, due to a lack of available information, there haven't been anymore leads.

Batavia police said they would like to present the following safety tips for those running, using the bike paths, or spending time at the parks:

• Avoid running/walking/biking in the dark or unlit areas. Area bike paths and parks close at dusk.
• Don’t wear headphones. Use your ears and eyes to be aware of your surroundings.
• Carry identification or write your information somewhere on your equipment as well as any pertinent medical information, if needed.
• Always stay alert and aware of what’s going on around you.
• Don’t run/walk alone. Always use the buddy system or run with a group.
• Keep your cell phone with you and charged.
• Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right to you, leave the area. Always trust your gut, it’s usually right!
• Wear reflective material and easily seen clothing.
• Call police immediately if something happens to you or someone else.
• If you notice anything suspicious be sure to contact police immediately and provide as much specific information as possible. However, remember your safety comes first. Do not risk your safety in order to gather additional information.

Patch will update this story if more information becomes available.

More: Batavia Police Department