Mugging Attempt on Franklin

opentoinput

Was walking home from the train last night around 10:30, around Franklin and Park near the laundromat, about ten paces in front of another guy on a cell phone with a backpack. Heard shuffling, didn't turn around until I heard a yell of 'WHAT THE FUCK' and saw two guys wrestling with him. He got free and ran up Franklin and the two guys slowly walked east on Park.

Never seen this happen on Franklin before. Plus, it was two blocks north of where the cops are always hanging out. Anyone experience this, or know others who have experienced this recently? A bit unnerving... I know that I'm usually walking home to from Eastern Parkway to Bergen flashing all my rocks, but I'm not sure I feel as safe as I used to.

spnder

I hate to say it, but get off your damned cellphone late at night. It's like a little bright sign that says "Mug me, I'm distracted."

ridonkulous

Also, did you talk to him? Did he know these guys? It's possible it wasn't a mugging but something else, based on your description.

ridonkulous

The only reason why I ask is this seems like a really weird place to try to mug someone. Brooklyn Ink and several churches are right there, and there are usually a lot of people out around that time of night. But not impossible, I guess!

squindar

cell phone grabs have become so prevalent now that I think using one on the street, especially texting and being completely oblivious to what's going on around you, is just downright foolhardy.

carnivore

Luckily, no one wants my busted old cell phone! :twisted:

opentoinput

Nope, didn't talk to him or know any of them, but you're probably right about the cellphone grab; I was about five paces in front of him, and I'm a much smaller target but didn't have a cellphone out...

tallest65

Keep your head up and eyes and ears open. Don't take it for granted even if people are around that you wouldn't get mugged.

em26

Carnivore wrote: Luckily, no one wants my busted old cell phone! :twisted:

True THAT.

Next time I see you ,just remind me to break it for you.K?


:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

cool the kid

My phone has all the basic functions of a new smart phone, but is old, ugly and slow. It's a REAL smart phone.

bropook

I don't find this at all surprising. my husband was very violently mugged last spring (April 2008) on Eastern Parkway right after he got off the subway at Franklin. It was 9pm, and there were tons of people around. He wasn't talking on his phone, but the muggers took his backpack and wallet after breaking several bones in his face.

Please don't assume that you are safe just because you are near a church or a there are people around. Muggers who are desperate for some extra cash don't care about things like that. They see a target, and they go for it. And they also tend to get away with it.

independent mind

I saw a woman get her purse snatched on eastern parkway right in front of the Brooklyn Museum. Broad daylight, filled with people.

I didn't know what was happening either till I saw her start running and then come out of her sandals, only then did I realize she wasn't just horsing around with friends. I think there is also a responsibility on ALL of us to remain aware so that we can actually help people who get targeted around us.

These muggings should be thought of as crimes against all of us who don't think that anyone 'deserves' to get mugged or is 'asking' to be mugged by their behavior.

catwalkertexasranger

Mugging,shooting,stabbing,slashing,rape,robbery whatever word you choose it's all violent crime. The police are on the corner in a trailer. Most police that are stationed on or near the subway platform would have a tough time walking up the stairs let alone chasing down some criminals. They need to do more no matter what the public outcry of heavy handedness. I watched a guy open and finish a 24oz beer while waiting for the 4 train, he then dropped the can on the ground@6 ft from a trash can. Start with him and work your way up the food chain.

thom_thom

hi all,

long time reader, first time poster.

my wife had her iPhone yanked from her hand today (10/27) at 630 pm while trying to make a phone call at eastern parkway and nostrand ave. two younger men were the culprits, they grabbed the phone then booked it down eastern parkway towards new york ave.

it's been said before, but I'll say it again, be careful out there!

clayfilms

thom_thom wrote: my wife had her iPhone yanked from her hand today (10/27) at 630 pm while trying to make a phone call at eastern parkway and nostrand ave. two younger men were the culprits, they grabbed the phone then booked it down eastern parkway towards new york ave. it's been said before, but I'll say it again, be careful out there!

wow! sorry to hear that..it's must be really bad. that corner is usually chock full of cops hanging out by the dunkin donuts.

cool the kid

Damn, that's really crazy. Can't believe people are going crazy for a $100 phone. We must really be in an economic depression.

brooklynleather

learned my lesson today. people are fearless about mugging in broad day light with lots of folks around. seriously.

park place

Subject: Sad

Until someone shoots and kills one of these muggers, this will continue. They do this because they think you will not pull your weapon and discharge that weapon.

Sooner or later this will happen several times. The muggings will drop drastically and the police will become more aggressive on both response time as well as community policing because they do not want any murders. The muggers are not afraid of you and they are not afraid of the police. They are however afraid, of the most basic and dangerous component of our society. An armed citizen.

You might disagree and speak of poverty or race or politics or the need to all get along or driving a Prius or whatever. Your politics matter little when you are being mugged. I speak of cold reality only and like it or not, this is the sad reality of what will work.

I can assure you that I know of what I speak. I can assure of of that.

whynot_31

Subject: Re: Sad

Park Place wrote: Until someone shoots and kills one of these muggers, this will continue. They do this because they think you will not pull your weapon and discharge that weapon.

Sooner or later this will happen several times. The muggings will drop drastically and the police will become more aggressive on both response time as well as community policing because they do not want any murders. The muggers are not afraid of you and they are not afraid of the police. They are however afraid, of the most basic and dangerous component of our society. An armed citizen.

You might disagree and speak of poverty or race or politics or the need to all get along or driving a Prius or whatever. Your politics matter little when you are being mugged. I speak of cold reality only and like it or not, this is the sad reality of what will work.

I can assure you that I know of what I speak. I can assure of of that.

Park Place = Bernie ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz

park place

Subject: Re: Sad

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Park Place]Until someone shoots and kills one of these muggers, this will continue. They do this because they think you will not pull your weapon and discharge that weapon.

Sooner or later this will happen several times. The muggings will drop drastically and the police will become more aggressive on both response time as well as community policing because they do not want any murders. The muggers are not afraid of you and they are not afraid of the police. They are however afraid, of the most basic and dangerous component of our society. An armed citizen.

You might disagree and speak of poverty or race or politics or the need to all get along or driving a Prius or whatever. Your politics matter little when you are being mugged. I speak of cold reality only and like it or not, this is the sad reality of what will work.

I can assure you that I know of what I speak. I can assure of of that.

Park Place = Bernie ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz

In a manner of speaking, yes. He was not mugged again. Give it some thought?

jack krohn

I agree that someone pulling out a gun and blowing one of these losers away would help, but only for a bit. Even after the Goetz affair NYC saw record high crime rates. But, again, I would love to see someone, anyone, give muggers a taste of their own medicine.

catwalkertexasranger

Jack Krohn wrote: I agree that someone pulling out a gun and blowing one of these losers away would help, but only for a bit. Even after the Goetz affair NYC saw record high crime rates. But, again, I would love to see someone, anyone, give muggers a taste of their own medicine.

As a person with 30+ years of shooting guns, using a handgun in NYC for self defense is crazy at best. The population density makes even a targeted round potentially fatal to a bystander. Yes bullets go through and on to the next. Bullets shot in the air to celebrate weddings and new years land and sometimes on people. They don't always go where you want them to even with extensive training and practice. Like it or not the fat bellied cop on the beat has training and is a better than 99.9% of the general population at observing gun safety practices. Keeping a gun anywhere but in a locked safe is dumb and dangerous for you and everybody that lives near you. A dropped or mis -fired weapon can go through many walls ,windows,wood,cars and kill or injure somebody . A cell phone and common sense are everybody's best defense. NO GUN jokes here,pretty please. If you find a gun do NOT throw it away turn it in at the police station no questions asked,believe it or not some people who have guns found them.

park place

catwalkertexasranger wrote: [quote=Jack Krohn]I agree that someone pulling out a gun and blowing one of these losers away would help, but only for a bit. Even after the Goetz affair NYC saw record high crime rates. But, again, I would love to see someone, anyone, give muggers a taste of their own medicine.

As a person with 30+ years of shooting guns, using a handgun in NYC for self defense is crazy at best. The population density makes even a targeted round potentially fatal to a bystander. Yes bullets go through and on to the next. Bullets shot in the air to celebrate weddings and new years land and sometimes on people. They don't always go where you want them to even with extensive training and practice. Like it or not the fat bellied cop on the beat has training and is a better than 99.9% of the general population at observing gun safety practices. Keeping a gun anywhere but in a locked safe is dumb and dangerous for you and everybody that lives near you. A dropped or mis -fired weapon can go through many walls ,windows,wood,cars and kill or injure somebody . A cell phone and common sense are everybody's best defense. NO GUN jokes here,pretty please. If you find a gun do NOT throw it away turn it in at the police station no questions asked,believe it or not some people who have guns found them.

OK, no gun jokes here. However, be advised that the police can't help you. They can respond and try to help you but not enough when you are being beaten and robbed. Furthermore, it is my assumption that anyone with a gun has extensive training. This is not the wild west.

Sad that we have to discuss this. It wold be nice if we could all get along; but we can't.

whynot_31

Park Place wrote:
"Furthermore, it is my assumption that anyone with a gun has extensive training."

Really? ...no training is required to purchase one, even if one goes the legal route.
http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/nyc.aspx