Stalking Safety Plan: What to Do When Someone Won't Leave You Alone

Stalking is defined as a pattern of unwanted contact that causes fear. It doesn't require physical confrontation — repeated texts, drive-bys, showing up at your workplace, or monitoring your social media all qualify under Arizona law.

Your first priority is documentation. Every incident should be logged with date, time, location, what happened, and any witnesses. Save all messages, voicemails, and emails without responding to them. Screenshots with visible timestamps are critical.

File a police report even if you think nothing will come of it. The report creates an official record and establishes a timeline. If the behavior escalates, that record becomes the foundation for a restraining order or criminal charges.

Vary your routines. Change the times you leave home, the routes you drive, and where you park. Inform trusted people at work and at home about the situation so they can help monitor for the stalker's presence.

A private investigator can conduct counter-surveillance — identifying whether you are actually being followed, documenting the stalker's behavior in a legally admissible way, and helping you build a case that law enforcement can act on.

Arizona's stalking statute (ARS 13-2923) makes stalking a Class 5 felony, elevated to Class 3 if a credible threat is made. Understanding your legal standing gives you power. You are not overreacting — and you don't have to handle this alone.