Being stalked is a frightening and stressful experience. A stalking charge can fall under domestic violence if the stalker is a former partner or someone you have a close relationship with. However, stalking can also come from strangers or acquaintances. If you feel someone is following you, watching you, or harassing you, taking action quickly can help keep you safe

What Is Stalking?

Stalking refers to a pattern of unwanted attention that makes someone feel scared or uneasy. It may include behaviors such as unwanted messages, uninvited visits, spying, or tracking someone’s online activities.

Stalking can be motivated by various reasons, including:

• Desire for revenge
• Jealousy
• Mental health issues
• Obsession
• Sexual predation

In many places, stalking is illegal, and victims can take legal action to stay safe, such as getting a restraining order or reporting the stalker to the police.

What Are the Signs of Stalking? 

Stalking behavior can vary, but common signs include:

Immediate and Persistent Need to Contact You

A stalker may reach out to you and contact you non-stop. They may begin to text, call, or email you in a way that feels intrusive. If the contact exceeds social norms and your personal comfort zone, then it may suggest stalking.

Clingy or Keeping Tabs on You

A person showing stalker behavior may insist that you tag them along on social activities, or they may demand that you accompany them to gatherings with your friends or family. The person may also insist on knowing your whereabouts or your future plans. 

Constant questions about your daily plans might make you feel uncomfortable. You should note that being interested in someone’s life differs from developing an obsession with their daily movements.

Surveillance and Monitoring

Stalkers may track your location to keep tabs on you. They may also make unexpected appearances or frequently drive past your home or workplace. Stalking behaviors in a relationship go past normal relationship boundaries and lead to fear or discomfort. An intimate partner may demonstrate stalking behaviors such as:

• Using a GPS tracker on your car
• Constantly monitoring your activities
• Accessing your social media accounts without your authorization.

Unwanted Gifts or Messages

When someone sends gifts or messages continuously even after being asked to stop, it becomes a possible sign of stalking. What starts as a harmless act might develop into intrusive and threatening behavior.

Physically Aggressive Behavior 

A stalker may want to isolate you and keep you to themselves. The person may become aggressive and intimidating if you distance yourself from them. 

Any thoughts of you leaving them trigger feelings of abandonment and make them stressed out. The person may get physically aggressive or follow you closely to show that you will never escape their presence.

If They Know More About You Than You’ve Told Them

A stalker may have details about you that you never disclosed to them. The person might investigate your background to learn about your workplace, favorite hangout spots, and details about your friends and family. They may also track your daily commute routes and gym schedule, as well as other regular patterns in your schedule.

How to Stay Safe

Here’s how to protect yourself from a stalker:

Make Your Feelings Clear to the Stalker

If you feel that someone’s behavior is inappropriate, you should let them know how you’re feeling and ask them to stay away from you. If they fail to comply with your demand, you can report them to the authorities.

Tell Others

Many stalking victims don’t feel comfortable sharing their situation with others, but it’s important to let others know what’s going on. You should reach out to close people such as family members, friends, co-habitants, work colleagues, and neighbors. By explaining the situation to other people, you accomplish the following:

• Keep others from unintentionally giving the stalker information about you
• Make other people aware of the seriousness of events they observe
• Build stronger evidence in case you decide to take things to court 
• Get the necessary help or support to overcome the traumatic experience

Increase Personal Protection

Another action you should take is to protect yourself. Consider putting security cameras and motion-detector lights outside your home. Your security camera footage serves as proof that your stalker entered your property unlawfully.

You also want to ensure your stalker cannot locate you easily by using a post office box as your mailing address. You should also avoid posting any personal information that may assist cyberstalkers in tracking you. If your stalker uses calls or messages to contact you, then you should block them. But if they call from a different number, you should get a new phone number. This might cause some inconvenience, but it will give you peace of mind.

Document All Incidents

Maintain a record of all incidents in a journal. Note down details, such as time, date, and how each incident occurred. You should also record any phone calls you receive, as well as all the times you spot the suspect parked near your house. To bring stalking charges against a person, you must show numerous instances of harassing behavior, so every little detail counts.

Notify the Police

When a stalker continues their behavior even after you’ve asked them to stop, then you must notify the police. It’s a good idea to visit the police station and report directly to an officer rather than have the police come to your home. A police patrol car at your home could attract unwanted attention, which is not good, especially if you want to keep your case confidential. 

When visiting the police station, make sure to bring all evidence and documentation with you. While the police will assist you throughout the process, you must take the initiative to facilitate your own case.

Your Safety Comes First

No one should have to live in fear. If you believe you are being stalked, take immediate action to protect yourself. Trust your instincts, reach out for help, and use legal protections to keep yourself safe. Your safety is the top priority.