January is National Stalking Awareness Month and Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy released information about stalking.
Murphy said that while stalking is an old behavior, it’s a
elatively new crime and is defined as the `persistent, unwanted pursuit of an individual that is threatening or harassing in nature, causing fear and psychological unrest. What makes stalking unique is that it is committed over a prolonged period of time during which it can often escalate in intensity, he said.
Common things that stalking victims report include being followed and watched, receiving unwanted calls, emails and letters and suffering actual or threats of physical injury or destruction of property. Murphy said that stalkers can be ex-spouses, acquaintances or strangers and can sometimes trick entities like the DMV, employers and even medical establishments to gain access to the victim’s private information.
Murphy said that victims should notify police if they are being stalked and give a detailed log of all the incidents.
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