Hey, just to chime in here having had a weirdly unsettling experience myself this week with a stranger (I'll elaborate below) but the police here in the UK suggested keeping a diary of every single thing that occurs both written and online (for the metadata and timeline if online - I.e. reddit etc) and to chronicle how it's affecting you emotionally too as that will help with prosecution. If you can prove that this is an ongoing campaign that is affecting your physical and mental health, as well as your safety, you have further grounds to push for inprisonment and restraining order. Stay safe. Fuck this guy, what a total fucker!

My recent creeper experience: my current housemate mentioned a few times he's heard the door knocker (we don't have a doorbell) go and when's he's come downstairs no one has been home. On Monday I was, unusually, working from home on my desktop downstairs with my back to the front door. I heard the letterbox open, assumed it was the postman until I heard shuffling and one of my cats begin to do this odd low body growl (THANKS GUARD CAT!) I turned around and there was a guy I've seen hanging around my gym peering through the letterbox filming on his iphone. I stand up, say "EXCUSE ME?!"; he calmly replies "Hello" and takes off down the street. The police arrive within minutes, no sign of him; however, they interview the neighbours who claim they've seen him hanging around the house during odd hours (the middle of the day, late a night etc). They've assigned an incidence report to the whole issue (added to the withheld number calls I've been getting at all hours and the fact that he's apparently, upon investigation, not a member at my gym!) and essentially said the above - keep a chronicle of everything. To simply have a legitimate timeline of all the events, as well as a record of the emotional toll it's taking, will stand up in court when pursuing it further. They also mentioned that in cases of random stalking (as in, not an ex-boyfriend or partner etc) to change all numbers and only give contacts out to trusted individuals.

My stalker was a kindly-looking older gentleman who lived in my apartment complex. I played with his dog. He started waiting outside my door in the mornings and evenings, and propositioned me for sex. There's no telling what causes someone to fixate on you. The only thing you can do is whatever it takes to keep yourself safe.

Not all the time, which kind of makes this a bit more unsettling. Keep your guard up. If you have the chance maybe get your locks changed at your house and if you have a decent relationship with your neighbors ask them to keep an eye out.

Just to add to recording every inappropriate interaction or contact that this man has with you; even if you don't have anything damning enough to charge him with stalking you there may be a good chance that you can file for harassment. I don't know what the laws are like where you live, but I live in the US, and that was how I was finally able to get help from the police when I had a stalker. He hadn't done anything threatening, and there wasn't much I could link specifically to him because we attended school together, but he had called and followed me enough times that it finally classified as harassment and the police had some legal grounds to tell him to leave me alone.

Stalkers usually feel like they have some kind of relationship with their victim. Even though YOU don't know him, HE feels like he knows you. Please go back to the police with ALL of the things he's done.

I grew up with a ridgeback - great dogs and usually very protective :)

Oh also I told my sisters this, look into bear mace, its stronger and most of the time It's dyed orange so they can identify the bear, and don't buy something that you have deep in your purse have it accessible, plus the orange dye makes it easy for police

ahh our good old boys in blue! Quick to remind you.. there's nothing we can do!

Scary truth is that almost no smaller, rural, or even suburban police depts have real "detectives" that had specialized training and advanced degrees in criminology or anything. At least in the US, it's usually just a cop that passed a written test one day so the department can say they have a detective or "criminal investigator".. but that person lacks the credentials, experience, and passion for the work.

What about harassment, he is constantly calling you under fake names, couldn't that be qualified as harassment of some sort? I'm sure you've already looked into this, also dog run = better workout that's a win win for you :)

Expect the dog to be more of a deterrent and an alert rather than relying on it for protection. While it would be great if the dog protected you, a lot of dogs actually might not (too scared or other reasons), even breeds typically thought to be protectors. Please make sure to take other measures for your safety!