How to Stop a Stalker

At last, a book about a tough topic that will make a difference . . . . the author . . . is more experienced than anyone I know. . . . I recommend without reservation.-Dr. W. Garrett Capune, Department of Criminal Justice, California State FullertonDet. Proctor has written, hands down, the best practical guide on how to stop a stalker . . . .-Jane Shade, Assistant Department Counsel for Orange County, CaliforniaOne out of every 12 women and one out of every 45 men in the United States are stalked in their lifetimes! If you are a victim of a stalker or suspect that you might be, this book will give you the means, not only to protect yourself, but ultimately to put the stalker behind bars. Veteran detective Mike Proctor, who has investigated and consulted on over 100 stalking cases (all of which have been successfully prosecuted), has written this essential survival guide for anyone who becomes the target of one of these sociopaths. He teaches you:- how to identify a stalker- how and why they do it- what to do if you are being stalked- how to collect evidence- how to get the justice system on your sideA pioneer who helped get stalking laws on the books, Proctor is largely responsible for alerting the law enforcement community and the public to the seriousness of the crimes of these predators. In all cases victims are subjected to mental abuse in the form of terrorist threats directed against them. But in some cases threats lead to physical abuse and even death.Proctor lays out the typical patterns of stalker behavior: leaving bizarre gifts and notes; vandalism; surveillance; persistent contact through various means of harassment (phones, pagers, letters); breaking and entering, either to steal some personal item or just to let the victim know that his or her privacy has been violated; and a host of other nuisance tactics, including harassment of family members and family pets, filing legal actions, disrupting utility services, threats of violence, and the latest trend: cyberstalking.With his wealth of experience, Proctor offers keen insights into the pathological mindset of the stalker. For example, stalking problems often arise in a situation of domestic violence. Other stalkers are fantasy driven, often believing that the victim is in love with them. Stalkers rarely take responsibility for their actions, blaming others for making them do what they do; most have stalked more than one person. Some are disgruntled employees seeking revenge against business associates or employers, an increasingly common motive in stalking.Complete with many examples taken from actual cases, this excellent handbook on a serious social problem will be of great use to current or potential stalking victims, law enforcement officials, personnel departments, and employers.Detective Mike Proctor (Westminster, CA), a thirty-year veteran of the Westminster Police Department, is a recognized expert on stalking who has worked and consulted on over 100 stalking cases. He has appeared on 20/20, America's Most Wanted, CNN, The Maury Povich Show, Unsolved Mysteries, and Case Closed, and is frequently quoted in the press. He also consulted on the 1996 Police Officers Standards and Training video training course on stalking and teaches at both the professional and university level.