Defining the phenomenon 'stalking' as conduct, which occurred at least twice, that would cause a levelheaded person to be scared, the federal crime experts conducted the largest-ever survey related to stalking, which revealed an alarming number of victims - nearly 3.4 million over a one-year period.

Even though experts and advocates have been arguing about stalking for a long time, it is only now that facts have been put down in figures. Reports also have that, so far as victims are concerned, there are far more women than men.

Along with being one of more of seven harassing behaviors during the survey period, stalking also includes instances of being followed or spied upon, receiving unwanted calls, e-mails or letters.

The report by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics - from 2005 to 2006 - indicates that nearly half the victims had been stalked at least once per week; with
11 percent of them having been stalked for over five years.

Commenting on the stalking report, Cara Smith, deputy to Illinois Attorney General, said: "Stalking has been an underreported and misunderstood crime, but this report shows that it is very widespread."

Despite the fact that every state has adopted an anti-stalking law, experts opine that the prosecution of the crime is very rare. The advocates for the victims say that most of the states require both a strengthening of the law, and better response to the problem by the way of providing new protections and better training of police and prosecutors.