7 Things to Do If Someone Is Stalking You

Are you anxious or worried about your safety because someone is following you, threatening you, calling you, and watching you? 

Being stalked is a scary experience that leaves an individual feeling powerless and terrorized. Approximately one in three men and two in four women in the United States are victims of stalking and harassment in their lifetime. And usually, the target knows the criminal. If you feel you are being tracked, you can take serious steps against it and keep yourself safe and secure. 

Here is the complete guide and steps you can take to protect you.  

1. What Should You Know About Stalking? 

Stalking is a harassing behavior that is an offense in Criminal code. This kind of behavior of any person gives a good reason for anyone to fear for his/her personal safety. Ethically and legally, this kind of behavior of any person is not acceptable. Where this type of behavior is explicitly threatening and considered criminal harassment. After this, there is no excuse for the guilty person to claim that she or he did not mean to frighten the other person. 

Remember, some people need to contact you repeatedly for certain lawful reasons. For instance, a debt collector may visit or call you several times. 

Here you some examples of criminal harassment or stalking: 

• Calling you over and over again without any substantial reason or purpose and perhaps hanging up whenever you try to answer
• Contacting you through e-mail messages or on social media accounts 
• Following you or your friends or family 
• Sending you gifts unnecessarily
• Leaving threatening messages
• Tracking you wherever you go
• Bullying you or your family members 

These few are the very common examples of such unwanted and threatening behaviors that can cause emotional distress. One can take action against such practices as they considered criminal harassment. So you can contact the police or discuss it with your restraining attorney if this is happening to you.

1. Why and Who Stalks? 

Stalkers have different characteristics and personalities. Some may have personal grudges, or others may have a mental disorder. Various experts have described many types of them, but they mostly get fit into these two categories: 

They are obsessed with someone they know: Many stalkers know their targets and try to control them, whether they are their ex-spouses, partners, close friends, acquaintances, or co-workers. About eight percent of harassment victims fall into this category. 

They are obsessed with strangers: Some harassing people target strangers, or sometimes celebrities. They may believe that eventually, they will win the money or love of their victims. Almost more than twelve percent of victims fall into this category. 

1. Can a Stalker become Violent?

It is always hard to decide if the stalker harassing you will become violent or not. If unfortunately, you are going through such a situation, you need to ask the police to help you. Less than 2% of harassment cases involve injury to victims. However, in some cases, the results can be severed, so without waiting for any serious step from the other side, you should take action against it. It is always better to find ways to secure yourself and your family.   

1. Why You? 

Being stalked or harassed is not your fault. A stalker may claim you to love, or he/she really wants to control you. Every individual always has the right to reject the friendship, break up with a partner, or separate from a spouse. You know the stalker or harassing person does not mean that you should put up with this kind of irritating and threatening behavior. This is not your fault if someone repeatedly follows or bothers you. Remember, this kind of harassing behavior is not love. It is against the law, and you can take serious action against it. 

1. What Steps Should You Take? 

Most of us don’t know how to deal with such types of behaviors or how to get rid of a stalker. So if you experience such a situation you need to inform the police and should ask them to help you. Secondly, think about safety, and if you sense any danger, don’t hesitate to dial the emergency number. Explain the whole situation and ask for the information and help to cope with it. 

1. Will the Stalker be Arrested and Sent to Lockup? 

The answer can be both yes and no. It depends on the seriousness and fact of the crime. The police will assess the whole situation and take the appropriate action according to law. For instance, if the police do not arrest the person, they may require the stalker to sign an agreement or promise in court that he would be charged if he was found to be involved again in such criminal activities. Still, if you feel fear for your protection, you can contact the police that they let you know before releasing the person from their custody and provide you with complete security. 

1. What Will Happen If a Person is Found Guilty? 

If the suspected person is found guilty, the judge will decide the sentence. Before condemning, you can provide the court with the written victim impact statement labeling how the accused person hurt or affected you or your family. You may find this process hard as you may not understand all the terms, so for this, you can hire a restraining order attorney. The verdict for the criminal may range from jail to probation. The court can also impose a fine. And this sentence can depend on many factors, including the criminal’s past record. 

1. Increase Your Personal Safety 

There are always hundreds of ways to cope up with such types of situations. For this purpose, firstly, you need to increase and improve your personal safety. There are a lot more things you can do to get out of such a situation and take serious action against the person who is involved in harassment include: 

1. Talk to Others 

The first step you should take is to discuss this issue with others. You can tell your co-worker or family member or supervisor. For instance, most workplaces have the programs to help the employees to deal with harassment. They may be able to prevent the delivery of unwanted parcels or able to screen calls or emails. Ask them never to share your personal information with anyone. 

Secondly, inform your children’s school’s security staff and give them a copy of any order that prohibits non-custodial persons from contacting the kids. Also, if you can describe the appearance of the stalker let the school security staff know. 

1. Your Personal Information Should be Private 

It is time to remove your personal details from the things you usually recycle or throw out. We usually don’t pay attention to this and end up with serious issues. Moreover, don’t use your social number except for income tax form and banking. It could easily help anyone to track you down.

And when you are at the workplace remove the personal information or number plate, if possible. 

1. Hire Restraining Order Attorney 

This one is the most effective and convenient way to cope with such kinds of situations. When you go through such alarming conditions, you need an expert person who can represent you in court since a layperson does not understand the complicated terms and complexities. For this, you need a restraining order attorney to represent yourself in court. 

1. Be Safe on Social Media 

Most stalkers and other criminals get our locations and information through our social media account. Most of us love to share our pictures, live location, and additional personal information to impress others. According to a new study, in most cases, criminals get an individual’s personal information from social media accounts. So it is always wise to secure your accounts and don’t let strangers invade your privacy. 

Also, report harassing chat-room or e-mail to your ISP. They can cut off the stalker’s account if they find that individual’s account involved in other harassing activities. Moreover, research cyberstalking, and you will find several sites with information and tips. Some can help you to track the stalker and send a report to you or the police.  

1. Be Safe on Mobile Phone 

Since you are dealing with a stalker and you need to tell your phone company about your current situation. Ask them about tracking calls and privacy and security features like blocking or privatizing your personal information from call displays.  

1. Check to Home Security 

Always be sure your doors and windows are locked and also use deadbolts. If the person is your ex-partner or spouse, it is wise enough to invest some money in changing the door locks. Also, consider security features like an alarm system or motion detectors. 

1. Be Alert and Have Plans 

You should always have an emergency escape plan and always think about your protection and safety. If it is possible, then do not walk alone. And if you sense someone is following you so somewhere safe and call for the help. Also, consider changing your travel route to home or work often.