Normally quiet Westfield has been the center of a media blitz after news surfaced of a lawsuit claiming that a stalker has been sending homeowners mysterious letters. (file photo)

WESTFIELD -- The dark, threatening letters one family says they've been receiving since buying their township home last year are now the subject both of a police investigation and of conversation across the country.

The mysterious letters targeting a home on a quiet, suburban street drew attention earlier this month when the homeowners filed a lawsuit, alleging the notes have made it impossible for them to sell a house they've never felt safe enough to move into.

The letters claim that a person identifying himself as "The Watcher," along with his father and grandfather before him, have been watching the house since the 1920s. They refer to the previous owners by name, reference the home's layout and ask for "young blood" to be brought inside.

As word has spread about the stalking messages, news outlets from as far away as England have picked up the story, while New Jerseyans and others all over the country are sounding off with their own reactions.

See what people have been saying below.

[&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="//storify.com/njdotcom/the-watcher-creeps-out-social-media" target="_blank"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;View the story "'The Watcher' creeps out social media" on Storify&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;'The Watcher' creeps out social media&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Threatening letters targeting a Westfield home have generated a lot of talk. One word that keeps coming up? Creepy.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Storified by &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="https://storify.com/njdotcom"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;NJ.com&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;middot; Wed, Jun 24 2015 15:03:49 &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Tonight's activities included watching an episode of The Fall and reading about the Westfield Watcher so I'm gonna sleep real well #regretsTanie&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;WELP this isn't creepy at all. Nooope. http://t.co/b5VbEd82vustarspun&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;It almost sounds like a Criminal Minds... - Gina Chirico Real Estate (Essex County &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; West Essex, NJ) | FacebookIt almost sounds like a Criminal Minds episode but this is a true story about buyers who bought a $1.3 million home in Westfield NJ and are being...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Weird stuff happening in my home town. http://t.co/iQoDgYGldWMarisa Stotter&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;FEAR: Family Flees New $1.3M Dream Home After Receiving Terrifying Letters From Man Dubbed 'The Watcher'... http://t.co/yTnTDLjFEKDRUDGE REPORT&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Creepeee. Buyer of luxury home sues seller after person called 'Watcher' sends threatening letters. #real #estate http://t.co/KvcSTqB9ZIBeverly Pekala&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;A criminal. I hope they catch them soon. Nightmarish Notes from 'The Watcher' Keep NJ Family from Dream Home http://t.co/xsbzwFAUSPShoshiKatz&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Today in &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;oh god no&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; news, family hasn't moved into dream home because stalker is sending threatening letters. http://t.co/0esPLJd9PuAmy Gray&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;OMG, talk about creeposaurus rex. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Have they found what is in the walls yet?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; http://t.co/lW2E2WSs9O #thewatcher #wtf #creepyCaitlin Lane&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;This is so creepy I can't even handle it. Keep it classy, Westfield. http://t.co/TeFzM0WzQYDanielle H&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The story has been making the rounds in various media outlets. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fox and Friends&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; excerpted some of the notes, calling them &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;nightmarish.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;insider.foxnews.com&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Today Show&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;apos;s&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Tamron Hall called it &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;a top ten creepy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; story.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Homeowners sue over threatening letters from 'The Watcher'In TODAY's Take, Natalie Morales, Al Roker, Tamron Hall and Willie Geist discuss some of the day's headlines including a New Jersey couple who are suing the previous owners of their recently-purchased home, claiming they didn't disclose that the house has a longtime stalker who sends threatening letters signed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;The Watcher.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;A Westfield resident interviewed by CBS New York said he&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;apos;d be &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;pretty upset&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; if he was in this situation and found out the previous homeowners knew.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;CBS New York - If this happened in your home, what would... | FacebookIf this happened in your home, what would you do?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The story made its way to Oklahoma...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;KFOR-TV - A New Jersey family says their dream home has... | FacebookA New Jersey family says their dream home has turned into a nightmare after a person apparently fixated on their million-dollar home began sending them...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;...and across the Atlantic, where British newspaper &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Independent &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;described the letters as &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;sinister&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;terrorising.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Family claims a stalker called 'The Watcher' is targeting their homeThe family are suing the previous owners, claiming that they knew of the The Watcher's letters but failed to disclose any information while selling the property. The letters began arriving on June 5 2014, three days after the family purchased the six- bedroomed property in Westfield, Union County for $1.3 million.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;While many of those who joined the discussion were concerned, some were skeptical &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2014; either of the response by authorities or the lawsuit itself.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Am I the only one smelling a rat here?... - Dr. Brian Russell | FacebookAm I the only one smelling a rat here? &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;#TheWatcher&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;? Really?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Is this a joke to the UCPO? Westfield 'Watcher' case 'exhaustively' investigated, mayor says http://t.co/OvvEskAdW8Karen Golding&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Others saw cinematic and creative possibilities.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;This story is insane...anyone own the movie rights yet? #thewatcher http://t.co/dKOpfqmbIeAdam Sharpe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;How terrifying! *notes down idea for future novel* http://t.co/05hPBzxOIzClare Mackintosh&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Horror Movie IRL in NJ? Sellers don't tell new owners that home is stalked by &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;The Watcher&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; who wants &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;young blood&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;! http://t.co/9TxW6qbGgiJacy Alexander Patti&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The story also brought up some tips for future home buyers &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2014; namely, start with research. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Nine years in newspapers taught me to Google address #homebuyers #homework http://t.co/jL9iLJsTT7 via @njdotcomDonna Christopher&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Katie Lannan may be reached at klannan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katielannan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.