Stalking is defined as a course of conduct or actions directed at a specific person that involves repeated unwelcome personal contact or appearances; unwanted and unsolicited communication, such as phone calls or emails; and threats, whether verbal, written or simply implied, that would cause a reasonable person to fear.  Stalking is serious and often violent, and can escalate over time. 

Someone may be stalking you if he or she:

1. Follows you repeatedly or shows up everywhere you go

2. Calls you numerous times, including hanging up on you

3. Sends you unwanted gifts, letters, cards or emails

4. Drives by your home constantly, or comes to your home, school or work uninvited and unwelcome  

5. Found out personal information about you by accessing public records or online searches, going

     through your garbage, or by questioning family members, friends or coworkers?

Over one million women are stalked each year and more than 370,000 are men  victims annually.  The top three reasons that victims felt they were being stalked were:

1.      they felt the stalker wanted to control them (the victim)

2.      the stalker wanted to keep the victim in a relationship

3.      the stalker wanted to scare the victim. 

How to respond to a stalker:

1. Do not attempt to explain anything or give deadlines or try just “one more time” to meet with a stalker. 

2. Say “no” once and only once; and then, never say another thing to him/her ever again. 

3. Stalkers who can’t have their victim’s love will take his or her hatred or fear.  So expressing anger or hatred will spur a stalker on rather than deterring him/her.

4. The one thing a stalker doesn’t want is to be ignored.  Victims should not allow their stalker the satisfaction of a reaction or response from them again.  The more a victim responds, the more the stalker feels that his/her actions will get a reaction from their victim.