According to the Bureau of Justice, an estimated 14 in 1,000 people were victims of stalking during a 12-month period. There was also a higher risk of stalking victimization of people who were divorced or separated, at a rate of 34 per 1,000 individuals. An estimated 6 to 7.5 million people are stalked in the United States in one year, with nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men having been the victim of stalking. Unfortunately, proving stalking is not always easy and law enforcement doesn’t always take it as seriously as people would like. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, US territories, and the Federal government.
If you know or think that you are being stalked, you might wish to gather evidence to prove it. This evidence can then be given to the police or could be used to prove a restraining order violation or perhaps provided as evidence in a civil court case. A private investigator can help you to detect a stalker and catch them in the act, whether they are stalking you in person or engaging in cyberstalking behavior.
What Is Stalking?
Stalking can include a range of harassing behaviors. The Supplemental Victimization Survey, conducted as part of the National Crime Victimization Survey, measured seven different behaviors as stalking behaviors.
These were:
- making unwanted phone calls
- sending unsolicited or unwanted letters or e-mails
- following or spying on the victim
- showing up at places without a legitimate reason
- waiting at places for the victim
- leaving unwanted items, presents, or flowers
- posting information or spreading rumors about the victim on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth
Other stalking behaviors might include cyberstalking, involving the use of the internet to monitor the victim or send them unwanted communications. This could be through social media and other means.
The Dangers of Stalkers
To most people, the idea of stalking someone seems unthinkable. Understanding why people stalk can be difficult. In truth, there can be multiple reasons why someone might decide to stalk someone else. They may have felt wounded after the end of a relationship, they could have delusions about the victim’s feelings for them, or they could be looking for control and sexual gratification.
What may be more important than why someone might be stalking you is the dangers of stalkers. At first, stalking might only be annoying, especially if it’s by someone you know. Then it can become frightening, affecting you in all areas of your life. Even more worryingly, it could escalate into further harassment and other crimes. 76% of women murdered by an intimate partner were stalked first, and 85% of women who survived a murder attempt were stalked first. Stalking victims also have a higher rate of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction.
How to Detect a Stalker
If you suspect that you are being stalked and want to prove it, you probably want to know how to detect a stalker and how to collect evidence. There are many signs that you can look out for to know if you’re being stalked, such as the behaviors listed above. However, some signs can be harder to spot. For example, if you think that you are being watched or spied on, it can be difficult to prove. You might be able to find some evidence by searching your home or car for hidden surveillance equipment and checking your devices for any apps or processes that you don’t recognize.
How a Private Investigator Can Help
Detecting a stalker if you’re unsure about whether someone is stalking you can be tough. A private investigator can help you to find out if someone is stalking you and discover who it is through thorough investigation. There are benefits to using a private investigator to prove a restraining order violation or identify the person you suspect is following you. A private investigator can provide services such as surveillance and criminal investigation to help with finding and identifying a stalker and documenting their behavior.
With the help of a private investigator, you can get the evidence that you need for the police or courts to prove stalking. Assurance Investigations uses the latest equipment and tools and provides knowledgeable and experienced investigators to work your case. We do everything that we can to provide guidance and support and to help you achieve your goal. We get the job done affordably and efficiently so that you can get your life and a feeling of safety back.
