From The Victim Assistant
Los Alamos Police Department

Every year, millions of Americans are victims of stalking; usually occurring by someone the victim knows such as an ex-spouse, ex-lover or former boss.

Like domestic violence, stalking is a crime of power and control that includes persistent patterns of behavior, causing victims to live in fear, unable to live a productive lifestyle due to daily safety concerns.

Stalking also is defined as someone engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others.

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), about 1 in six women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking in their lifetime.

Common Tactics of stalking include:

• Unwanted phone calls
• Unwanted emails, instant messages, text messages, voice messages, or social media messages
• Approaching a victim or showing up unwanted, such as at the victim’s home, workplace, or school
• Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the victim to find
• Watching, following, or tracking a victim
• Sneaking into the victim’s home or car and doing things to scare the victim or let them know the perpetrator had been there

Recommendations for stalking victims to follow:

• Be alert and proactive to protect yourself from the possible threat: Carry your cell phone with you at all times, buy mace, travel with someone.
• Enhance security measures such as changing your locks or putting up security cameras.
• Save all voicemails, text, letters, and cards, etc. Take pictures of items/gifts left for you or any property damage.
• Contact the police and file a report
• File an order of protection
• Tell trusted family and friends of the stalking 
• Block the perpetrator on your phone and social media
• Call 911
• ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!

Stalking victims can reach out to the Los Alamos Victim Assistant for services including:

• Safety planning;
• Order of protection;
• Referrals and Resources; and
  
• Support.

The National Violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233

The Los Alamos Victim Assistant: 1-505-663-3511