HOUSTON — Monday morning included an almost daily routine for a jogger who prefers not to be identified out of fear for her safety.
"It was a beautiful day, sunny outside,” the jogger said.
She’s shaken up by what she said happened as she ran down a stretch of West Gardner near Studewood.
"Felt a car kind of in my peripherals getting close and it got within about an inch of me,” the jogger said.
Surveillance video shared with us by a neighbor shows her running down the street. Additional surveillance from the next block shows her again, but this time she was being followed by a white, panel-type van that appeared to pull behind her from Norhill Street.
Here’s what she says happened next.
"Out of nowhere, he just rolled down the window and grabbed my shirt really aggressively and pulled it toward him, toward the van," the jogger said. "And so I screamed, took off my running hat, and kind of swatted at him with it. And then he took off.”
HPD confirmed she filed a police report.
Meanwhile, some on social media report similar incidents involving what may be the same van.
“I think it’s definitely pretty creepy,” neighbor Erik Gillen said.
"Just be aware," neighbor Jason Lillico said.
Lillico said he’s had his own run-ins, including with a potential prowler.
"And my wife and I are both guns drawn pointing at him,” he said.
However, even he’s surprised by this incident.
"Well, it’s kind of shocking that they tried to grab her," Lillico said. "I think we’re getting a little bit more over the line.”
The jogger said the man in the van got away with something.
"Unfortunately, that took a sense of security and confidence that I had,” she said.
She plans to more carefully watch her surroundings, especially whenever she spots a white van.
"You know, you hear these stories, but you never think it’ll happen to you,” the jogger said.
Unfortunately, the jogger didn’t get a great look at the driver, but anyone with information should call the police.
Meanwhile, avoid wearing headphones with loud music if you can and, if ever confronted, don’t be afraid to scream and make a lot of noise that could potentially scare someone off and also attract attention.