January is National Stalking Awareness Month, which focuses on a crime that affects an estimated 1.4 million victims a year.

This year’s theme — “Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.” — challenges the nation to combat the crime by learning more about it, according to National Center for Victims of Crime, a non-profit that provides resources and advocacy for victims.

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the center. One in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime, for an average duration of about two years.

Victims of stalking may ex-perience psychological trauma, financial hardship and/or be killed.

Eighty-one percent of victims stalked by an intimate partner also were physically assaulted by that partner, and 76 percent of female homicide victims were stalked prior to their death, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Stalking Resource Center.

Yet, many victims underestimate the seriousness and impact of the crime, said YWCA Enid Community Education and Prevention Specialist Kayte Anton.

“At first, they may view stalking as ‘creepy’ but not dangerous,” she said. “They may think that ignoring or confronting stalkers will stop them. But stalkers almost never stop, and confronting a stalker may escalate the violence.”

Even when victims see the danger and report the crime, stalking may be hard for authorities to recognize, investigate and prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, identifiable crime but can include a series of acts or a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear.

Stalking can take many forms, such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary and animal abuse as well as unwanted cards, calls, gifts or contact.

Detective Amy Firestone, Enid Police Department’s full-time domestic violence investigator, said stalking can constitute “two or more unwanted contacts.”

“Stalking is just another form of domestic violence,” Firestone said.

She said stalking doesn’t just apply to those who are the focus of unwanted attention, but also the family and friends of those being stalked.

EPD classifies stalking as domestic violence and does not keep figures for stalking specifically. Firestone said the department investigates “a couple cases” a month.

Firestone said improvements in technology have made stalking easier.

“It’s so much easier now,” she said. “There is no personal contact but they are still able to make contact.”

Stalkers can use devices such as computers, cell phones, Global Position System de-vices or hidden cameras to track their victims’ daily activities.

Stalkers fit no standard psychological profile and many have been known to follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another, making apprehension by the authorities even more difficult, according to National Center for Victims of Crime

Anton said by learning more about stalking, communities can support victims and combat the crime.

“If more people can recognize stalking we have a better chance to hold offenders accountable,” she said. “Know-ledge can help communities support victims and prevent tragedies.”

Firestone said in most stalking cases, the victim knows his or her stalker and often has had a previous relationship or personal contact. She said those being stalked should let their stalker know in no uncertain terms the attention or contact is unwanted.

“Tell them you don’t want any further contact,” she said. “Be direct. Don’t be nice about it.”

Those being stalked should document all unwanted contact for police, Firestone said. Keep times and dates of telephone calls and visits, and record unwanted text messages and e-mails to generate a report for law enforcement and establish behavior.

Other precautions should be taken as well, Firestone said.

Change phone numbers and create new e-mail addresses, if possible, and alter habits, such as taking an alternate route home from work.

“If you’re a victim of stalking let your friends and family know so they’re safe as well,” Firestone said.

During the month of January, YWCA is working to promote its community education service. Staff provides free presentations to all age groups over a wide variety of topics including domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

“We want to get into the school system as much as possible because of the importance of prevention. We need to talk to youth more about their relationships, establishing boundaries and creating healthy relationships,” Anton said. “The theme for Stalking Awareness Month encourages us to learn more about these topics and I can’t imagine a better way to create a healthier community than to educate the ones who are inheriting it.”

The YWCA Crisis Center is collecting items for anti-stalking kits, which are provided to victims free of charge.

The kits contain at minimum a safety plan, notebook, pen, safety whistle, YWCA contact information, information on Oklahoma stalking laws and a stalking incident log.

The kit encourages victims to take an active role to increase their own safety, according to Anton.

“The log is a very important tool. Stalking is a series of events, not a single criminal act, and the log allows the victim to collect and organize important information,” said Shalonda Kearney, YWCA court advocate. “This is a great resource when law enforcement investigates a suspect. Many of these logs have been presented in court as evidence.”

Other items needed for the kits include flashlights, disposable cameras and used cell phones with chargers. Cell phones are distributed to victims for emergency-use since the used phones still will call 911.

For information about stalking, anti-stalking kits or to schedule a YWCA presentation, call 234-7581 or e-mail Anton at kanton@ywca enid.com.