Multiple incidents reported of man following customers in Galleria-area Target

HOUSTON – As Jackie Georgiou and her two kids left Target on San Felipe near the West Loop Monday afternoon, she said a store employee came up and asked if she knew a man had been following her in the store.

"I said 'no, I didn't notice that.' And he said 'I noticed and I was following him and the reason I'm approaching is that he followed you out of the store and I didn't want him to follow you home.' And I said 'oh my God, thank you!'" Georgiou said,

She said the observant store employee said a man followed her and her kids around the store the whole time she was inside. She said the employee, named “Quay,” followed the man and followed her to make sure she was safe.

"I was totally blown away! I had no idea. I was so appreciative though that Quay was paying attention and that he noticed and that he had the courage to follow him and come out there and alert me," Georgiou said.

She said the store employee then recognized the man parked directly in front of her car. She said she drove off as the man continued to argue with the Target employee.

"He said 'get out of here' because I had my two children and he kept having conversation," said Georgiou.

She said she wanted to warn others and to thank one courageous store employee who might have not only saved her, but her kids as well.

She said, "When they say be alert, it means really, really be alert. Pay attention to every little thing."

KPRC 2 has reached out to Target for a response, but we have not heard back.

Taking 2-year-old twins Olivia and Cole anywhere can be a handful. But when they and their mom were at the Target on Westheimer at Wilcrest a couple of weeks ago, mom said a stranger closely watched.

“I notice this guy staring at us,” said Rachel London. She said it continued on and off for about 30 minutes throughout the store as the man only carried one item: coffee creamer. She said she tried to convince herself she was paranoid. She said, "When I checked out, he followed me out to my car and then followed me back in. So, at that point I was glad that I was cautious.” She said she told managers and security workers, who made sure she safely got to her car. She said she also alerted the Harris County Precinct 5 constable.

Rachel's mom and many others posted comments on KPRC 2’s Facebook page after our story aired Tuesday about Jackie Georgiou and her two kids. Georgiou said as she left Target on San Felipe near the West Loop Monday afternoon, a store employee told her a man had followed her, nonstop, around the store. She said the employee followed her into the parking lot to warn her, out of concern for her safety. Georgiou said, “I don't know what would have happened if he wasn't there."

London, like the others posting messages, said they want to warn others, regardless of where they shop, to watch out. Police said, unless a crime or disturbance is reported, cases like this are impossible to track.

London said, "When he followed me out, I thought I am definitely being followed. And that's when I started shaking and I just literally tossed everything in my car, shut it and walked back inside."

Target released a statement. It said, “What we're able to share is that at Target, our commitment to creating a safe and secure shopping environment is unwavering. As part of this commitment, we have robust procedures, policies and training in place to ensure that our stores are safe places to shop and work.”