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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 26 March 2019
An ‘extreme stalker’ has a Utah family’s home under siege

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A of his house, looking inside
Utah family has become his windows late at night,
the victim of extreme stalk- and sitting in cars parked
ing involving unwanted ser- outside — actions he be-
vice providers repeatedly lieves were triggered by
being sent to their home, the suspect hiring people
according to the home- online from a website that
owner and police. pays people to spy on oth-
Walt Gilmore’s family in ers.
suburban Salt Lake City A police car is now parked
has been the target since outside around the clock
August of a stalker using and Gilmore has put up
phone calls and texts to a large yellow sign in the
send a parade of people driveway with “ALERT” in
to the home for legitimate big red letters. Below it says,
services and illegal activi- “If you have been asked to
ties, the Deseret News re- provide any services to this
ported Friday. address such as a car tow,
Up to 20 people per day home repair, locksmith,
arrive saying they were plumbing, food deliveries
called to provide electri- or anything else, please
cal, plumbing, tree-trim- call the North Salt Lake Po-
ming, and towing services, lice.”
according to Gilmore, who And at the bottom in bold
said some are seeking ille- letters: “We are all victims
gitimate business. of this scam.”
“They have police records. “I feel trapped in my home.
Criminals. Felons. Ac- A warning sign and a police officer’s vehicle are stationed at Walt Gilmore’s home on Thursday, I feel threatened,” Gilmore
tive warrants for their ar- March 21, 2019. said. “My wife is scared to
rests coming to my home. Associated Press death constantly. My other
They’re looking for drugs. Court records indicate the false call cost the compa- more than $20,000 in wag- family members don’t like
They’re offering prostitu- person named in the in- ny an estimate $4,000 to es and uncollected fees. to go outside because they
tion,” Gilmore said. “And junction lives in Hawaii. round up the workers and Officers have been called don’t know who’s coming.
it’s pretty concerning to Detectives are looking drive to the house, Gilmore to the home at least 80 This is very threatening. And
me, my family, and my at multiple suspects, and said. times since February. it’s not only threatening
entire neighborhood that are not ruling anyone out, Police estimate the com- Gilmore said he has spot- to my family but my entire
these folks are there.” North Salt Lake Police Sgt. bined loss to companies is ted people taking pictures neighborhood.”q
The person responsible may Mitch Gwilliam said.
be using a computer pro- “It’s pretty vindictive in
gram to make calls, and what they’re doing,” Gwil-
texts appear to originate liam told the Deseret News.
from another number, mak- “Stalking is stalking. But this
ing them nearly impossible is stalking on steroids. It’s
to trace, according to po- pretty vicious.”
lice, who say they are using The calls range from pizzas
voice recognition software being sent to Gilmore’s of-
to find the suspect. fice to an environmental
Gilmore said they have cleanup company coming
taken out a civil stalking in- one Saturday morning on
junction against the person a fake call that Gilmore’s
they believe is responsible. house was flooding. The