A woman out walking her dogs had to approach a stranger for help after two men slowly followed her in their car and started asking questions about her dog.
Jenny Hughes had been walking her two Dachshunds around Knowsley Village early yesterday evening.
As she was on Frederick Lunt Avenue around 5pm she noticed a car seemed to be following her.
Jenny said: "I'd been out for about 45 minutes walking the dogs, it was a gorgeous day so I was having a long stroll around the village.
"About half way down the road a silver Peugeot drove slowly past me as I walked towards Sugar Lane.
"I heard somebody say something but I couldn't hear what it was so I just kept on walking but they pulled over the road just behind me. I looked back and they were waiting there looking at me.
"They then they turned around, did a U-turn, and came towards me. I looked back again and he shouted something at me to get my attention.
"At this point the driver had got out the car wearing an orange hi-vis waistcoat and started walking over to me.
"He said to me, 'hey girl, is your dog a boy dog?' I said no and kept walking."
Jenny described the man as around 5ft 8in tall, stocky build with short hair and in his late 30s.
She said: "He kept walking towards me so I walked towards a woman who was getting out of her car.
"I moved over to her quickly and said 'can you please pretend to know me, that man is asking me questions about my dog and he's followed me and it's a bit shady'. She said 'yes of course' and we were chatting about it.
"She made it quite clear she was looking at the men now and looking at the car so they did a U-turn and drove away."
Jenny told the ECHO that she found the experience to be very intimidating due to the increase in dog snatchings that have been reported, and also in light of increased public awareness of how men's behaviour and can make women feel unsafe.
She added: "With all the Sarah Everard stuff and walking alone, you don't do that, two men in a car slowing down next to woman and then follow her and then get out the car and come towards her - it's just not appropriate."
After reporting the incident to police, Jenny posted up on Facebook to warn other dog walkers to be aware in the area, and also to say thanks to the woman who came to her aid.
People replied thanking her for making them aware and agreed that the incident was very intimidating and suspicious.
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A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that enquiries are ongoing following suspicious circumstances in Prescot yesterday, Thursday March 25.
"At around 9.15pm, a report was made that a woman had been approached two men who enquired about her dogs. The incident is believed to have occurred at around 5pm on Frederick Lunt Avenue.
"Enquiries are ongoing."
Anyone with information or who witnessed this incident can contact polce @MerPolCC or 101 with reference 1084.
