How to Report a Stalker to the Police: What to Say and Bring

What to Bring

Put everything in one folder, paper or digital, and keep a second copy.

• A one-page timeline with dates, times, locations, and what happened.
• Evidence: messages, emails, voicemails, call logs, photos, and screenshots showing dates and sender details. Use the Evidence Auditor to check them.
• Identifiers: the person's name, phone numbers, usernames, vehicle, and addresses if known.
• Witnesses: names and contact information.
• Prior reports or orders: any earlier police reports, protective orders, or court papers.
• Photo identification for yourself.

What to Say: A Simple Structure

Officers hear many reports. A clear structure helps them see a pattern.

1. Say what you are reporting. "I'm here to report stalking."
2. Describe the relationship. "This is my former partner" or "I don't know who this is."
3. Explain the pattern. "Since March, this person has called me over 40 times, shown up at my workplace twice, and posted my address online."
4. Explain why you're afraid. Mention threats, prior violence, weapons, or escalation.
5. State what you want. "I want this documented, and I want to know about a protective order."

Generate a structured statement with our Police Report tool.

A Sample Opening Statement

Adapt this to your situation: "I am reporting stalking by [name or description]. Beginning on [date], this person has [calls, messages, following, showing up]. I have saved [number] messages and voicemails and a timeline. I'm afraid because [threat, past violence, weapon, escalation]. I would like a report number, and I'd like to know what steps are available to protect me."

What Officers May Ask

• When it started and how it has changed.
• Whether you have told the person to stop, and when.
• Whether there has been physical violence or threats.
• Whether the person has access to weapons.
• Whether you have a protective order, or have had one before.
• Where you live, work, and spend time.

Answer honestly, even if some details feel embarrassing. Officers need the full picture to assess risk. Read do stalkers become violent to understand why those questions matter.

Before You Leave

• Get a report number.
• Get the officer's name, badge number, and contact information.
• Ask what the next steps are and when you should expect a follow-up.
• Ask about protective orders, victim notification, and local victim services. The Office for Victims of Crime lists services in your state in its state directory.
• Take a copy or photo of the report if allowed.

If the Officer Won't Take Your Report

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, and you are entitled to make a report. If you meet resistance:

• Stay calm and ask the officer to explain why they can't take the report.
• Ask to speak with a supervisor or watch commander.
• Ask for the refusal in writing.
• Contact your local prosecutor's office and ask for the victim-witness unit.
• Try a different agency, such as the sheriff or, for campus matters, campus police.
• Keep documenting, and keep copies of your attempts to report.

After You Report

Add new incidents to your report with the report number, and send updates in writing so there is a record of each one. Keep a stalking log, review your safety plan, and consider a protective order. Our state guides link to official contacts.

Should You Go In Person or Call?

You can usually report either way. Calling the non-emergency line is quicker and may be enough to start a report, especially for a first contact. Going in person lets you hand over printed evidence and speak with an officer face to face. If the person is dangerous or you are afraid to be seen at the station, ask whether an officer can meet you somewhere else or whether you can report online. In an emergency, call 911.

Bringing Support: Advocates, Friends, and Interpreters

You don't have to go alone. A trusted friend or relative can sit with you, and a victim advocate, where available, can explain the process and attend with you. Ask the department whether it has victim advocates. If English is not your first language, ask for an interpreter at the start. If you have a disability, ask for any accommodation you need, such as written questions or extra time.

Special Situations: Partner, Coworker, Neighbor, or Stranger

• A current or former partner: mention any history of violence, threats, or weapons, and ask about domestic violence resources and protective orders.
• A coworker or classmate: tell the officer you have also told, or plan to tell, your employer or school, and ask the officer to note it.
• A neighbor: describe how often you cross paths, because proximity can make safety planning harder, and ask about mediation only if it is safe.
• A stranger or unknown person: provide descriptions, times, places, vehicles, and any accounts or numbers, and ask whether other reports match.

If the Stalker Is Connected to Law Enforcement

If the person works in law enforcement or is closely related to someone who does, you may worry about bias. You can ask to report to a different agency, request a supervisor, or contact the prosecutor's office or your state's attorney general victim services directly. Keep copies of everything. The Office for Victims of Crime directory lists victim services in your state, and our State Reporting Guide links to statewide agencies.

Follow Up in Writing

After you report, send a short written message to the officer or the records unit with your report number, the date of your report, and any new incidents. Writing creates a record of what you told them and when. Keep a copy, and add the contact to your log. See how to keep a stalking log.

What an Officer Can and Can't Do on the Spot

Expectations matter. An officer can take your report, collect evidence, tell you about protective orders and victim services, and sometimes make an arrest if there is probable cause that a crime occurred. An officer usually cannot issue a protective order, since courts do that, and may not be able to make an arrest on the spot if the conduct happened earlier or the evidence is incomplete. A report is still valuable: it creates a record, supports later steps, and may lead to an investigation. Ask the officer what happens next and when you can expect to hear back.

Your First Week After You Report

The days after reporting are a good time to consolidate. Send a written follow-up with your report number. Store your evidence in a second safe place. Tell your employer, school, or building management what they need to know, and update your safety plan. Consider asking the court clerk about protective orders and use the TRO Builder to organize your facts. Keep adding to your log, and take care of yourself.

Practicing Your Statement

It's normal to freeze or forget details when you're nervous. Practice your opening statement out loud once or twice, and keep your timeline in front of you. If you get emotional, take a breath and say, "I need a moment." Officers hear from frightened people all the time. If you leave something out, you can add it later in writing.

A good report is calm, specific, and organized. That is not a performance. It is how patterns become visible to people who can act.

Sources and further reading

• Stalking (Office of Justice Programs)
• Help in Your State (Office for Victims of Crime)
• Stalking Victimization, 2019 (Bureau of Justice Statistics)