STALKING

Recognizing the Signs and What to Do

Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.

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Concerning Signs & What To Watch For

  • Unwanted phone calls
  • Unsolicited or unwanted letters or emails
  • Following or spying on the victim
  • Giving inappropriate gifts
  • “Rescuing” You! They will create situations that require you to be rescued
  • Manipulating you into interacting
  • Waiting at places for you or showing up uninvited
  • Posting information or spreading rumors about you
  • Threatening someone you know or their family, friends, or pets

Concerning Signs & What To Watch For

  • Unwanted phone calls
  • Unsolicited or unwanted letters or emails
  • Following or spying on the victim
  • Giving inappropriate gifts
  • “Rescuing” You! They will create situations that require you to be rescued
  • Manipulating you into interacting
  • Waiting at places for you or showing up uninvited
  • Posting information or spreading rumors about you
  • Threatening someone you know or their family, friends, or pets

Concerning Signs & What To Watch For

  • Unwanted phone calls
  • Unsolicited or unwanted letters or emails
  • Following or spying on the victim
  • Giving inappropriate gifts
  • “Rescuing” You! They will create situations that require you to be rescued
  • Manipulating you into interacting
  • Waiting at places for you or showing up uninvited
  • Posting information or spreading rumors about you
  • Threatening someone you know or their family, friends, or pets

TYPES OF STALKERS

Domestic: Stalking a former spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend


Lust: Serial predators who stalk victim after victim


Love-Scorned: An acquaintance, coworker, neighbor, etc. who desires an intimate relationship with the victim, but is rejected


Revenge: An angry former employee, an aggrieved business partner, a resentful neighbor, a vindictive relative, or any other person

Types of Stalkers

KNOW THE FACTS

  • 1 in every 6 women and 1 out of 19 men in the United States have been stalked

  • Almost 3 out of 4 stalking victims know their stalkers


  • 54% of victims reported stalking to the police before they were killed by their stalker

  • People aged 18-24 have the highest rate of stalking victimization

  • 89% of victims who had been physically assaulted before their murder were also stalked

  • Less than 1/3 of states classify stalking as a felony

KNOW THE FACTS

  • 1 in every 6 women and 1 out of 19 men in the United States have been stalked


  • Almost 3 out of 4 stalking victims know their stalkers


  • 54% of victims reported stalking to the police before they were killed by their stalker


  • People aged 18-24 have the highest rate of stalking victimization


  • 89% of victims who had been physically assaulted before their murder were also stalked


  • Less than 1/3 of states classify stalking as a felony

KNOW THE FACTS

  • 1 in every 6 women and 1 out of 19 men in the United States have been stalked


  • Almost 3 out of 4 stalking victims know their stalkers


  • 54% of victims reported stalking to the police before they were killed by their stalker


  • People aged 18-24 have the highest rate of stalking victimization


  • 89% of victims who had been physically assaulted before their murder were also stalked


  • Less than 1/3 of states classify stalking as a felony

Intimate Partner Stalkers

  • Usually have criminal records and abuse drugs and/or alcohol
  • Are threatening to their victims
  • Follow through on their threats of violence and assault their victims
  • Threaten with, or actually use weapons on their victims
  • Reoffend after a court intervention and reoffend more quickly
  • Contact and approach victims more frequently
  • Are insulting and interfering/intrusive in the victim’s life
  • Escalate in frequency and intensity and pursue more often

Safety Planning Tips

  • Trust your instincts
  • Provide a photo of the stalker and inform neighbors, friends and co-workers of the situation
  • Change your routine
  • Make sure school/work does not give out your contact info
  • Change locks and upgrade security systems
  • Notify police, especially if you are in an unsafe situation
  • Don’t communicate with the stalker
  • Take threats seriously
  • Work with a local domestic violence shelter or victim services program to develop a safety plan
  • Keep evidence of the stalking
  • Consider getting a restraining order

Go to stalkingawareness.org for an in-depth list of safety planning.

Safe Horizon Hotline

1-800-621-HOPE (4673)

National Center for
Victims of Crime

1-855-484-2846

Stalking Resource Center

1-800-394-2255