Get ready, because the air in Sydney and Melbourne will soon be filled with excitement as we welcome the Year of the Horse in February 2026! Australian families are gearing up for their annual homecoming, which brings a delightful mix of bustling ports, lively airports, and vibrant street celebrations all across the country. If you’re planning to join the festivities, be prepared for the summer heat and the joyous crowds that come together to celebrate the Lunar New Year in unforgettable ways. It’s such a wonderful time of year, filled with happiness, reunions, and, of course, delicious food!
While the lively atmosphere is exciting, it’s important to prioritise personal safety. Being aware of your surroundings, both online and offline, can help you enjoy the celebrations more fully. If you ever feel uneasy, don’t hesitate to seek discreet assistance. Embrace the joy and make the most of the festivities!
How to Tell if Someone Is Actually Following You
Being aware of your surroundings is crucial, especially during busy holiday crowds. Travel can bring many unfamiliar faces, making it harder to spot someone who might be following you. Look for patterns: if you notice the same person near you multiple times, it’s worth being cautious. The same goes for vehicles; be alert if a particular car keeps showing up.
Digital tracking is also a concern. If your phone’s battery drains quickly or data usage spikes unexpectedly, someone might be tracking you.
In large gatherings in Australia, like Lunar New Year festivals, it’s easy to feel watched. If that feeling lingers across different locations, it’s time to take notice. Stay alert to keep you and your family safe during the holiday season. Trust your instincts and seek help if something feels off. Your safety is the priority!
Spotting Digital Breadcrumbs and Physical Tails
To identify whether someone is following you, look for signs like someone adjusting their pace to match yours or pausing when you turn around. If you feel you’re being followed, try turning onto a busy street or entering a building with multiple exits to see if they hesitate. Make sure to take mental notes of their appearance without letting them know you are aware of them.
For digital safety, check your belongings after being in crowded areas for unusual devices, particularly under your car. Inside your home, inspect places where you keep personal items for tiny electronic trackers. Professional private investigators use specialised tools to find these.
Regularly review your phone’s Bluetooth settings for unfamiliar connections, as they may indicate a security issue. Remember, while public cameras are mainly for monitoring traffic and preventing crime, they usually don’t focus on individuals unless there’s a police inquiry. Staying vigilant about who knows your whereabouts is crucial for personal safety!
Immediate Steps to Take When You Feel Unsafe
If you confirm or strongly suspect someone is following you, your immediate actions matter greatly. Your first rule must be this: never go directly to your home address. This is the most important safety rule for any traveller. If someone is tracking you, revealing your home location gives them exactly what they want. You must break their line of sight and confuse their path before you finish your trip.
Instead, seek out a safe haven immediately. A safe haven is a very public, well-lit place with security personnel or many people around. Think about heading to a large, open police station, a busy hospital lobby, or a major shopping centre with lots of security cameras. Walk with purpose and stay in the light. If you can, step into a shop, buy something small, and look around. If the person follows you inside or waits outside the door, it’s a clear sign of trouble.
Knowing when to call for help is also important. For any immediate danger, like feeling physically threatened, dial 000. That’s the emergency line for Police, Fire, or Ambulance services across Australia. However, if you are safe for the moment but need advice or help, call 131 444, the Police Assistance Line (PAL) in Australia. In most states, this number is 131 444. Use this line to report suspicious activity or seek non-emergency police assistance. Getting to a public place first protects your privacy while you line up professional support. Public transport stations are busy, but only use them if you know the next train is coming quickly. Otherwise, staying in a fixed, secure building is a better choice for your protection.
Your Legal Rights and Seeking Professional Help
Being followed or tracked without your consent is a serious matter. Stalking and unauthorised tracking are illegal activities in Australia. You have a legal right to personal safety and privacy at all times. Police will usually investigate threats to your safety or evidence of criminal stalking. They handle the official prosecution of such offences once they have sufficient proof.
Still, sometimes police need more than just a person’s feeling of being followed to act quickly. For instance, if you need a restraining order, like an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), you need solid evidence of a pattern. This is where private assistance comes into play. A Private Investigator Sydney can lawfully gather the evidence needed for these legal protection orders. They work quietly to document patterns of pursuit or confirm the presence of unauthorised tracking devices. It’s wise to know that since July 2022, licensing for these professionals has changed. In NSW, folks previously known as Private Inquiry Agents are now licensed as private investigators under a security licensing subclass. Hiring a professional helps build a factual case file. This gives you the best chance of obtaining legal protection against harassment. This professional service offers a fact-based approach when standard reporting isn’t immediately enough to trigger a police response.
Celebrating the Year of the Horse with Peace of Mind
This Chinese New Year, focus on the joy of family and the beauty of the 2026 celebrations. Staying prepared means you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the New Year. Take simple steps to secure your travel plans early. Be mindful of your belongings in crowded market squares or during the fireworks. Securing your personal information online remains a smart habit year-round. Keeping your specific travel dates off social media until after you arrive helps maintain your residence’s privacy. We hope you enjoy your reunions and the tradition of giving Hongbao. Staying alert doesn’t mean living in fear; it means staying in control of your holiday. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Year of the Horse!
Common Questions About Holiday Safety and Tracking
Travellers often have questions about their privacy near big public events. Here are three common concerns.
- What should I do if I find a tracking device on my car?
- Do not touch it more than necessary, as you might smudge fingerprints or damage evidence. Move your car to a secure, public location if you feel safe doing so. Then, contact the police to report the illegal device. You can also hire a private investigator for surveillance to help identify who might have placed it there.
- Is it legal for someone to follow me in public during a festival?
- While walking in public isn’t a crime, sustained and targeted following that causes distress is often considered stalking. If someone mimics your movements to intimidate you, they are likely breaking the law.
- Can a Private Investigator help me if the police say they can’t act yet?
- Yes, because they can dedicate time to gathering evidence that police may not have the resources for. They can conduct bug sweeps or conduct surveillance to document a stalker’s behaviour. This evidence is very helpful for future legal proceedings or police reports.
The 2022 licensing changes mean that private investigators are highly regulated. They must follow strict rules while helping you secure your privacy.
REFERENCES: NSW Police Force. (n.d.). Contact us. NSW Police Public Site. Retrieved February 16, 2026, from https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/contact_us_form
