Jennifer Garner stalker arrested hunting Ben Affleck daughter Violet in California neighborhood

December 15, 4:55 PMCelebrity Property ExaminerKae Davis

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Jennifer Garner is being stalked by this man. If you see him in her neighborhood, call authorities.

Radar Online / Wenn

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Jennifer Garner and husband Ben Affleck have had their lives turned upside down by an allegedly delusional stalker. Now, the trauma is spilling out as news reports surface the frightening man has been arrested for breaking his restraining order while hunting the daughter of the celebrity couple, their young toddler Violet.

BREAKING NEWS: ARREST OF STALKER FOLLOWING JENNIFER GARNER IN CALIFORNIA

Even Hollywood status, good looks, enormous talent, strong family values, and all the money in the world has not enough to keep away the strange in the case of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. Not only are the couple a target of a stalker's advanced -- now, he's after their daughter. 

The most unfortunate part of the story? There is very little the famous pair can do about it except to be careful at all times (even in the privacy of their own home) and to let the authorities handle it.

Radar Online broke the story, and released the following details:

Steven Burky, was arrested Monday for violating a court order and stalking while violating a court order after he was found to be near Garner's daughter Violet Affleck's school.

Garner was granted a restraining order against Burky in November 2008. Burky was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Garner, her husband Ben Affleck and their daughter Violet, as well as being prohibited from contacting Garner in any way.

The Celebrity Kids Examiner Melissa Viscount reports,

Violet attends a Santa Monica pre-school. A November 2008 restraining order forbids Burky from coming within 100 yards of Violet, Jennifer Garner or her husband, Ben Affleck. The restraining order is in effect for at least two more years.

Intentionally violating a restraining order is considered a misdemeanor in California and is punishable by up to a year behind bars and a $1,000 fine. Burky is currently being held on bail.

JENIFER GARNER TARGET OF STALKER, NOW OBSESSED WITH HER FAMILY AS WELL

Garner claimed Burky had been stalking her since 2002, following her around the country and sending her packages and letters. At the time the order was granted Garner wrote in court papers, "This past year, Mr. Burky has resurfaced and his obsessive and harassing behavior has escalated to the point of becoming dangerous and threatening.

What do the celebrity couple say about their deranged fan? They are frightened, of course. Garner says,

"He has now shown up at my private residence and has repeatedly expressed his belief that God has sent him a vision of me being persecuted in some manner that might result in my death."

STALKING A NATIONAL PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT JUST AFFECT CELEBRITIES

Statistic vary regarding reports of stalking, with many countries now reporting as many as 1 in 9 women will be stalked for at least 3 months or more during some point in their life.

Typical duration of stalking incidents that do not result in violence tend to last for an average of 2-3 years.

Many (but not all) stalking cases involve past lovers engaging in threatening following behavior after a breakup.

As victims have felt more comfortable coming forward to discuss the abuse they have suffered at the hands of stalkers (people well known, casually met, or unknown as in the case of the Garner-Affleck stalker), courts have worked nationally to change legislation and add anti-stalker laws.

Although most laws are ineffective and penalties for stalking still remain misdemeanors in most cases, the most dangerous and harmful of stalkers have been left free to hunt women, children, men, and families for decades.

Remaining vigilant, continually document all suspicious incidents, being sure people closest to you are aware of your situation (family, friends, co-workers) and keeping in regular contact with your local authorities are just a few lifestyle changes that must happen for victims.

Privacy must often be forsaken in order to ensure security; childrens' lives (like young Violet) are unquestionably altered and forever damaged as daily reminders of the security risk stalkers present must be stressed in ways that end normal childhoods and instead create memories that the world is a dangerous, adult place.

WHAT MAKES STALKERS HUNT THEIR VICTIMS?

What causes stalkers to select a target and pursue the destruction of their lives and lifestyles?

Most are mentally deficient; others are enraged because they are in love with their target and feel shunned; all have deep moral sickness that varies from 'erotomania' to bully syndromes.

Often, there is a level of manic behavior present that can be triggered by any random event in the stalkers life. As such, outburst are seldom to if ever triggered by any action or activity of the victim.

ADVICE FOR STALKING VICTIMS

The most important piece of advice for victims of stalkers?

Never be ashamed of be let to believe it is in any way your fault.

Stalkers live to undermine and harass others. They do so without conscious and derive great pleasure from any perceived success. As deficient humans with a variety of personality disorders and dysfunctions, they are typically able to cover their tracks well from those closest to them.

Like serial killers keeping trophies, stalkers do what they can to collect pieces of their victims. Copycat behavior, collecting mementos, and fantasizing about having an affiliation with the victim is common in the absence of a stalker having the personal capacity to live life without a targeted obsession.

Protect yourself prudently but never fall victim to talking any stalker's obsession, actions, or remarks personally. If someone has target you, know that the person the stalker chose to obsess over was chosen at random and could have been almost anybody.

More over, it is important to remember very few stalkers have only one target selected during their lifetime. As such, unless the stalker is very young, chances are you aren't their first -- and most likely won't be their last (even if they end up in a mental facility or in jail incarcerated). 

TYPES OF STALKERS

The following information is excerpted from Stalking Crimes:

Stalking Behavior

Stalkers can be young or old, male or female, professional or unemployed. But most are men who are isolated, socially inept, and often mentally ill. The crime can be motivated by different types of psychopathology, including psychosis and severe personality disorders, and stalkers pursue their victims for a variety of reasons, but all tend to have a narcissistic sense of entitlement to the victim.

Australian stalking expert, Dr. Paul Mullen, found from his study of 145 stalkers, reported in the August 1999 American Journal of Psychiatry, that half the stalkers never had a long-term relationship, and a third were separated or divorced. To facilitate diagnosis and treatment, he classified stalkers into the following five categories.

Types of Stalkers: Personality profiles of people who stalk others and what they derive from doing it

The Rejected Suitor

Sometimes a partner rejected by their spouse or lover may vacillate between overtures of reconciliation and revenge. They have a narcissistic sense of entitlement and belief this is the only relationship they are going to have. More than 80% of rejected stalkers in Mullen’s study had personality disorders. Therapeutic treatment of the rejected stalker involves helping him or her come to terms with the end of the relationship.

The Intimacy Seeker

The intimacy-seeking stalker intends to establish a relationship with his "true love" regardless of her wishes. More than half of the intimacy seekers Mullen evaluated were delusional, believing that their love was reciprocated, and nearly a third had a personality disorder and a delusion that their quest would be ultimately successful. Legal actions do not work well with intimacy seekers, who may justify their behavior with the belief they must pay a price for true love. The court may order treatment, which should focus on treating their delusions or other mental disorders.

The Incompetent Suitor

This type is typically a man who had been rebuffed after asking a woman for a date. He’s often socially inept, and when rejected, begins to stalk with the hope that his persistent behavior will change the woman’s mind. The incompetent suitors can be responsive to judicial sanctions but are also likely to relapse.

The Resentful Stalker

These offenders express anger in response to a perception that they have been humiliated or treated unfairly by the object of their obsession. They thrive on having a sense of power and control over the victim, and are hard to treat because they often see themselves as the victim.

The Predatory Stalker

The six predatory stalkers in Mullen’s study admitted to preparing to sexually attack a random victim. This type derives pleasure from gathering information about the target and fantasizing about the assault. They often have prior convictions as sexual deviants.

Why Classify Stalkers?

These five categories are, by no means, agreed on by all experts on obsession and stalking. Those engaging in stalking behaviors can have a variety on backgrounds, motivations and mental illnesses. Still, attempts at some type of classification can be useful. A better understanding of different types of stalking behavior may help victims better protect themselves, assist law enforcement in profiling and capturing stalkers and also aid mental health and legal systems in assessing the risk of recidivism and likelihood of rehabilitation.

Stalking Danger

Too often victims do not fully appreciate the true danger of being stalked, and this can be a fatal mistake. If you feel uncomfortable with the repeated advances, gifts or communications of an “admirer,” trust your instincts, and err on the side of caution.

Wherre to get help if you are the victim of a stalker

This article is a summary of merely a fraction of the information available on stalking. Become familiar with federal and state stalking laws [in the United States], stalking statistics [in your neighborhood], and the many resources available to assist and protect stalking victims, such as the National Center for Victims of Crime (800) 394-2255 and the Stalking Resource Center.

Read more at Suite101: Stalking Crime: Types of Stalkers: Classification of Harassment Behavior & Anti Stalking Resources | Suite101.com