January is National Stalking Awareness Month, Winn’s DART officer Annie Goods advises.

“Stalking can take many forms,” she says.  “It’s more than just the following someone like you you see on TV.  It could be phone calls, text messages, showing up unexpectedly and unwanted, spreading rumors, hacking accounts or threats.”

She says stalking can escalate to harming pets, property damage or filming without consent.  “It’s all domestic violence and it’s stalking, no matter if it happens before, during or after a relationship,” she stresses.  “Know it, name it and stop it.”

DART suggests that residents can learn more online at StalkingAwareness.org.