Following — pestering — threatening: stalking can put a victim into grave danger.

Stalking in the context described here defines acts of pestering, following or terrorizing. A stalker will collect all the information they can get about their victim in order to be able to corner the victim at any time. It describes the intentional and repeated following and molesting of another person in a way that threatens their safety and severely impairs their way of life and their private sphere.

Stalkers often feel humiliated by their victim, misinterpret the victim’s behaviour, see themselves as the victim or simply want to exert power over others. Some stalkers may want to take revenge while the actions of others may be of an erotomanic nature. Stalkers are mentally ill or disturbed. In particularly dramatic cases, the spectrum of so-called stalking behaviours may range from physical violence and sexual assaults all the way to killing.

Experienced agents from Fritsch Private Investigators are familiar with the manifestations of the problem and use suitable methods to prove stalking.

Stalking may be manifested by the following types of behaviours:

• Telephonic harassment; the perpetrator calls the victim at the office or at home at the most unusual times Slander and libel
• Threatening messages are left on the victim’s answering machine, or sent by text (sms, mms) or e-mail
• Waiting for and accosting the victim in front of their office, home or during a walk 
• Contacting the victim via third parties
• Sending of gifts and love letters to the victim
• Messages are left on the victim’s doorstep and/or car Threats
• Acts of criminal damage
• Breaking and entering into the victim’s home
• Merchandise orders and magazine subscriptions are made in the victim’s name
• Occasionally, stalking may be accompanied by exertion of physical force as well

Stalking is a criminal offence

Stalking is a criminal offence under German law (according to Section 238, German Criminal Code -- StGB – enacted on 31 March 2007) and may be punished by fines or imprisonment of up to three years or more. We recommend that you contact the police and press charges. (If you do not know the identity of the stalker, then press charges against an unknown party.) Should the police refuse to accept the charge or see no need for action, then you should at least insist on receiving a report or transcript of your attempt to press charges.

Stalking is deemed to exist if the victim is subjected to pestering for an extended period of time or the intensity of the perpetrator’s activity progressively increases, resulting in a direct, indirect or long-term threat to the victim’s well-being. Stalking typically extends over a time frame of more than two years. You should definitely not wait for such a long time before taking action! Stalking is too serious to be taken lightly and typically will not just “go away on its own”!

Of paramount importance: Get help early – in a purposeful and professional manner!

To purposefully counteract the health-related and social consequences of stalking it is recommended to secure help at an early stage. The agents from Fritsch Private Investigators can provide you with crucial assistance against stalking, drawing on extensive experience and using professional techniques.

We appreciate your trust!