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Stalking: The Facts
What is Stalking?
If You Are Being Stalked

Stalking: the facts

1 in 12 American women and 1 in 45 American men
have been stalked at least once.

59% of stalkers of females are the victims'
current or former male partner.

The average stalking case lasts 1.8 years. Nearly a
fifth of all stalking victims move to new locations
to escape their stalkers.

What is Stalking?

In Virginia law:

Any person who on more than one occasion engages in conduct directed at another person with the intent to place, or with the knowledge that the conduct places, that other person in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that person or to that other person's family or household members.

In Plain English:

Stalkers are people you know or may not know.
They may try to scare you or control you by doing
some of the following things:

  • Following you.

  • Interrogating you, your children, family, or friends about you.

  • Checking mileage on your car.

  • Timing your activities.

  • Peeping / listening in on your conversations.

  • Reading your diary / journal.

  • Leaving "traps" in your home so the stalker will know when you come or go.

  • Leaving things in your home, car, work intended to frighten you, such as hate mail.

  • Trying to hurt your repuation by lying to friends, family, people at your work.

  • Killing or stealing pets.

  • Driving by your house or workplace.

  • Tying up your phone lines.

  • Destroying your property.

  • Leaving messages (on your answering machine, pager, e-mail, front door, car, etc.) that are threatening.

  • Trespassing.

If you are being Stalked

Keep track of what the stalker is doing to try to frighten you:

Keep copies of all messages. This includes the message you sent the stalker to tell him to stop and all messages the stalker sends you.

Make a record of every time the stalker tries to get in touch with you (phone, mail, in person, through friends, etc.)

If there are witnesses, make a record of what they saw or heard the stalker do (in case you go to court).

Take pictures of the stalker when you see him -- but only if it will not put you in danger!

Tell everyone you know that this person is stalking you. Give them a picture and description of the stalker and the stalker's car, if you have one. Ask them to look out for you and help you record what is happening.

Call the police each time you see the stalker or receive a message from him. Ask police to make a written report for each complaint you make. Write down the officer's name each time for your records.

Press charges. You can go to the magistrate and request a stalking warrant. The magistrate will decide if you have enough evidence to press charges.

For more information please call your local law enforcement agency.