Stalking

Six common stalking profiles.

All stalkers have the same patterns, but different reasons and methods, says expert Park Dietz

The Batterer
Batterers are the most likely of all stalkers to kill their victims. Remember that some of the most violent assaults occur after the couple has separated. Stalking behavior is dangerous and can result in homicide.

The Pervert
This type stalks men, women, or children who appeal to them sexually.

The Jilted Lover
A renewed romantic relationship with the victim is the goal of this stalker.

The Delusional Stalker
This stalker believes they are owed something by a famous or well-known personality

The Psychotic
This may be a total stranger who believes they have been jilted by the victim in some way.

The Narcissist
These stalkers are hard to recognize because they are usually an overachiever or professional, but they will destroy anyone who crosses them.

When stalking crosses the line

According to Michigan Law (MCLA 650.411h) the crime of Stalking is defined as “… a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.”

Stalkers cross the line when:
There is a willful, malicious and repeated following of a person over a period of time.
The behavior would cause a reasonable person to feel threatened.
It is intended to instill fear in the victim.
The stalk’s level of persistence is inappropriate to the relationship.
The stalker is overly attached to the symbols of the relationship (mementos, photos, etc.)
The stalker is violent or abusive during the relationship.
The stalker is uncontrollably jealous or possessive after the relationship is over.
The stalker demonstrates obsessive behavior, such as making increasingly demanding or threatening phone calls or showing up unexpectedly at places frequented by the victim or target of the stalking.

What to do if you are being stalked...

Contact your local authorities and ask for a Personal Protection Order (PPO).

Contact local women’s shelters in your area to see if they provide PPO Assistance, or check your local legal aid organization.

Keep detailed records of all incidents. When possible, tape-record, videotape or photograph encounters. Make sure the harassment is officially noted in police reports so you can establish a history for court proceedings. Note the date, the time and place of each incident. Take photos of destroyed property or injuries. Keep all answering machine tapes for evidence, especially those that contain threats to harm or kill.

Warn family members, neighbors, and co-workers not to give out personal information about you to anyone.

At work, have visitors and calls screened. Tell building security about your situation.

Secure your home. Install good deadbolt locks and adequate outside lighting.

Vary your daily route so the stalker cannot easily follow you. Do not walk alone.

Get a second, unlisted phone line so that your answering machine can record threats. You can pick up calls from family and friends on your private line, which has a number you give out to only a few people.

Do not try to talk sense into a stalker or agree to meet him to “clarify things”.

Do not plead with the stalker to be left alone. It does no good. Call the police.

Do not return gifts or send back letters. In many cases this has caused the stalking to intensify. Keep items for documentation and evidence.

Do not come to the stalker’s aid when the person fakes a crisis to make you feel guilty. If he threatens suicide, call the police to assist.

In the case of an ex-lover, forget about reconciliation.

Be prepared. Have quick access to telephone numbers and location of police departments, emergency shelters or friends’ homes. Keep money and a packed suitcase available with your important documents for a quick departure.