Although victims or loved ones sometimes minimize a stalker’s behavior, it can often lead to violence: About one-third of stalking victims were eventually physically or sexually assaulted in one study. Potential indicators of violence include previous instances of violence, destruction of property, loitering around the victim’s home or workplace, and whether the victim feels intense fear.
However, there’s no way to reliably identify if a stalker will turn violent, so it’s important to take concerns seriously, by documenting the stalker’s activities and considering legal action.