Creep I encountered at a hotel

I (f25) was on vacation with my friend (f25) in a large city in the southern US. We were visiting a lot of the sites in the city when we stopped at a souvenir shop. We were looking at some items on the wall when there was a man (I would say late 50s/early 60s) standing very close to my back, not looking at anything in the store. My friend was standing in front of me and was oblivious to this man. I don’t like to be invasive or make people feel uncomfortable so I didn’t say anything. The guy was just standing there with his hands in his pocket, which immediately made me feel very unsafe. I was thinking about my options to get away safely and didn’t want to alert him to my suspicion. <br><br>The store was closing soon so we made a decision to go. I turned around to tell this man I was leaving and he stepped forward, right in front of me, and asked if I would give him my phone number. My friend and I both gasped and looked at each other. I told him I was not interested and quickly walked out of the store. My friend was scared for me. We walked to the car and were about to get in and leave but then realized we had left my purse in the store. We both went in to get my purse and as soon as I walked in, there he was. My friend stayed by the door. I went up to the counter to ask for my purse and while waiting I noticed this man standing in a corner of the store looking at me. I told my friend I was going to grab my purse and he came to the counter to get it for me. <br><br>After I left, my friend went to get my purse. When he was reaching for my purse on the shelf, this man started to creep closer and closer to her. My friend said she could feel the breath of this man on her neck. When he handed her my purse, she could see the back of his head almost touching her face. She was terrified. She ran out of the store and into the car. We left the city immediately. I made a call to the police department in the city and reported the incident. We also told the hotel where this man might be staying and the police went and looked for him but never found him.<br><br>I want to thank this man for showing me I was strong and capable. He didn’t harm me and didn’t try anything more. But I want to tell his story as I feel he needs to be told. So Let’s Not Meet again.