Getting stalked is terrifying, but realizing how it’s happening can be just as disturbing.
That’s what one Nebraska woman discovered while searching for her lost AirPods between the seat and armrest of her car. Instead of earbuds, she pulled out a tracking device she didn’t recognize, definitely didn’t install.
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“I was afraid to leave my house and take my dog for a walk because I didn’t know if he was going to be there or what he was going to do,” the victim, whose identity is being withheld, told the First Alert 6 Investigates team at WOWT.
And that was just the beginning.
Using a plumber’s camera and a device designed to detect trackers, she inspected the underside of her vehicle. What she found was chilling: four separate electronic tracking devices, each hidden in magnetic key holders and carefully placed beneath her car.
Why current laws can’t protect you
The discovery of the four trackers wasn’t enough to directly tie the evidence to the victim’s ex.
Nebraska’s electronic stalking laws are considered weak because they don’t explicitly prohibit the use of tracking devices without consent, especially when those devices are hidden on someone’s vehicle or personal belongings.
“The problem in the law is that there’s nothing prohibiting people from using AirTags or other devices to track individuals without their consent,” Deputy Sarpy County Attorney Leighandra Hazlett told First Alert 6 Investigates.
Under Nebraska law 28-311.03, stalking is defined as “[a]ny person who willfully harasses another person or a family or household member of such person with the intent to injure, terrify, threaten or intimidate commits the offense of stalking.”
In cases like this, the legal definition of stalking may not be sufficient. The victim — who suspects an abusive ex was tracking her — is urging lawmakers to close the gap in protections against digital surveillance.
According to investigators, prosecuting these cases remains difficult under current statutes, which require proof of both intent and a repeated pattern of behavior. But as tracking technologies become more discreet and widely available, advocates argue the law needs to evolve.
“It’s not a law right now, it’s not illegal to track somebody,” the victim said. “And that’s scary.”
Read more: How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement
How to protect yourself from digital tracking
While an app that detects hidden tracking devices can help, it’s often not enough to prove who placed them or why. That’s why the victim went a step further, installing a dash cam and a rear-facing camera in her car to capture suspicious activity.
If you’re concerned you’re being tracked, start by doing regular visual checks around your vehicle, especially under wheel wells, bumpers and behind license plates, where devices are often magnetically attached. Consider downloading a Bluetooth scanner app, which can alert you to unknown devices nearby. Keep a detailed log of any incidents, screenshots or messages that suggest stalking behavior.
And if you find a device, don’t remove it right away. Contact local law enforcement so it can be documented as evidence.
These proactive steps helped detectives gather enough information to arrest 48-year-old Michael Hoerman, who later pleaded no contest to felony and misdemeanor stalking charges, as well as violating a protection order. He’s currently being held on a $50,000 bond, with sentencing set for early September.
As the victim continues taking steps to protect herself, prosecutors are urging Nebraska lawmakers to finally make electronic stalking a crime.
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