Stalking self-help
Location Known By A Stalker/Offline Harassment
The fact that an online stalker knows your actual location makes it imperative that an official report be filed with your local law enforcement agency, IMMEDIATELY. This is especially true if threats of physical violence are part of his/her attack.
You may find that the local police are reluctant to actively investigate your case, and may even state that, unless a "credible" threat of violence is involved, there is nothing they can do. There are several circumstances that may result in this kind reaction,
The primary reason is that most local police agencies neither have the resources, nor the computer expertise, to deal with this relatively new type of crime. Other reasons can be the actual laws applicable to your state/region and/or specific jurisdictional issues.
In any case, this should NOT deter you from pursuing this issue. If the initial reply to your complaint is less than satisfactory, contact your local prosecutor's office for an explanation of your rights under the local laws and specific capabilities regarding the prosecution of this type of crime.
As a last resort, United States residents can request that their complaint be forwarded to the Computer Crimes Division of your State Attorney General's office. If you are refused, ask how to contact this office and take it upon yourself to file a complaint with them.
When filing such a report with any of the above agencies, make sure you also supply them with any copies/logs of the harassment that you may have kept.
Doing this will not only add credibility to your complaint, but this "proof" may be required to demonstrate the "intent to harass" that some states require for legal action to be initiated.
In addition to these legal aspects, copies of e-mails, postings, etc., can provide critical clues to establishing the real identity of your stalker.
Offline stalking can take many actual forms, but the following are the three basic methods:
Telephone Calls
This is the most common form of offline stalking and can involve, not only calls to your home, but also to your place of business, friends, relatives, or immediate family.
Communications of this sort should be reported IMMEDIATELY to both the local police, AND also your phone service provider. This is especially true if threats of physical violence are involved. Most already have procedures in place to handle such situations, including the temporary issuance of an unlisted number.
Until direct action can be taken, do NOT engage your stalker in conversation. Hang up as soon as you are aware of the call's nature.
If you have Caller ID service, make a note of the sender's phone number and the date/time of the call.
Until you can get an unlisted number, use an answering machine to screen your calls. Logs of the harassing calls and recordings of any messages left should be retained and forwarded as directed by your phone service provider.
"Snail" Mail
Harassment through the Postal Service is far less common, primarily because the telephone is not only more convenient, but it involves less possible exposure for the perpetrator.
The issuance of threats in this manner can carry severe legal penalties, and most stalkers know this. Any mail of this nature should be reported to your local Post Office AND law enforcement, as soon as possible, for disposition.
A special note here: Whether or not you are the victim of offline harassment, considering current world events, be VERY suspicious of ANY unexpected deliveries. This includes ANY letters or packages, that have NO return address, or the sender is unknown to you. These should NOT be opened until checked by the authorities or the authenticity of the sender can be verified.
Physical Contact
Actual physical contact between an online stalker and victim is extremely rare, and generally only occurs in situations that involve either a pathologically delusional stalker or some kind of previous real-life relationship between a stalker and their victim.
However, due to the obvious danger associated with this kind of circumstance, law enforcement involvement should be pursued WITHOUT DELAY.
Although this kind of development ("real life" stalking) is well beyond our capabilities to deal directly with, consider the following general precautions until definitive action can be taken by the applicable law enforcement agency:
BE ALERT and aware of your surroundings, the people and things happening around you.
VARY ROUTES of travel when you going to/from work or home.
PARK SECURELY and in well-lit areas. Ask someone to escort you to your car.
BE AWARE of vehicles following you. If you are followed drive to a police station, fire department, or busy shopping center and sound the horn to attract attention.
ALERT MANAGERS or security at your place of business and/or apartment complex. If possible, provide a picture or description of the stalker.
HAVE A SECURITY CHECK MADE by law enforcement of your home to ensure that it affords you sufficient security. Keep all doors and windows in both your home and vehicle secured as much as possible.
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