State leaders and victim advocates are sounding the alarm that stalking in Maine is a serious problem.

Stalking “can and does lead to other crimes like physical assault, sexual assault and murder,” Attorney General Steven Rowe stated in a press release issued last week. Some people have the perception that stalking is not a serious crime. That needs to change, Rowe said.

“Although stalking prevalence is high in Maine, public awareness about stalking as a crime remains dangerously low,” Nicki Blanchard, public awareness and prevention coordinator of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, said. “One in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime for an average duration of almost two years.”

To get the word out, Gov. John Baldacci has named January Stalking Awareness Month in Maine. The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault have partnered with the Department of Public Safety and the Northern District Wal-Mart to spread awareness. The groups also were able to raise enough funds to create and distribute 1,000 stalking safety kits to advocate groups statewide.

The kits include flashlights, disposable cameras, journals and pens, whistles, rubber gloves and plastic bags for evidence collection, and information about stalking resources.

Some of the kits also included cell phones programmed to dial 911, but there weren’t enough funds to put a phone in each kit. That’s why the public is being asked to donate old cell phones to their local domestic violence project or sexual assault center so they can be refurbished for the program.

“Stalking instills great fear and anxiety in victims and is often devastating to their lives,” said Donna Stickler, executive director of the Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center. “We want victims to know that help is only a phone call away.”

Stalking victims may call the statewide domestic violence help line at 866-834-HELP (4357) or the statewide sexual assault crisis and support line at 800-871-7741.