So, I got mugged this morning.

jayce · January 2006

Corner of Vanderbilt and Park. same place that the guy in my apartment building got mugged. 5:30 am, I had just crossed over Vanderbilt on Park Place. Guy on a bike was coming the other direction on Park, saw me, turned his bike around behind me and circled up right behind me. Got right up in my face and told me "it was going to be a very bad day and he was in a tough place" and demanded I give him money. I didn't have any on me and when I told him that he insisted I had to have something... and ATM card or something. Told him I was going to the gym and didn't have anything and he was getting annoyed and insisted that I had something of value. I scrounged around and found a couple of singles in my backpack which I gave him. He told me I had to have a cell phone, to which I argued that I was going to the fucking gym and didnt bring things with me. He just kept arguing so I started to walk away. As I was walking away he says "I'm not a bad dude." I kept walking. Found a guy walking towards me and asked him if he had a cell phone and called the police. I also didn't want this guy to come upon the dude around the corner. Guy was gone by then... probably turned up Vanderbilt towards the park.

Called the police and filled out the report and looked around for him and all that. Nothing.

So as much as I hate the fact that this guy will fit the stereotype and all, hes a 20ish black guy with some light facial hair, medium complexion, on a BMX bike. He was wearing a dark baseball cap with a white or light grey do-rag underneath it. Black leather jacket just longer than his waist and jeans. I couldn't tell how tall he was because of the bike, and well, quite frankly, I was a little scared. Didn't appear to have a weapon, but who knows.

But again, same corner as the guy in my apartment building. And given how it went down, it sounds like its the same guy. My guess is thats his corner. I walk by there every morning at that time and have never seen him before, but it was a warm morning and maybe it was better for him to be out this morning than yesterday when it was 16 degrees or something.

either way, heads up.

and now i wonder what to do about walking to the gym in the mornings...

queen_of_pies · January 2006

Subject: Re: So, I got mugged this morning.

this sucks. glad you're ok, and thanks for filling out a police report; it's a hassle and seemingly futile but you know what they say: the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.

My guess is thats his corner

incorrect. it's MY corner, and I'll be watching.

jayce · January 2006

Subject: Re: So, I got mugged this morning.

queen_of_pies wrote: incorrect. it's MY corner, and I'll be watching.

god help you if you are up at 5:30 and peering out your windows.

queen_of_pies · January 2006

well fine, god help me then. I'm up at 5 every morning so I can have a little quiet time before the rest of the crew awakens, and since we can't afford cable the window on vanderbilt is our entertainment.

jayce · January 2006

ugh. so now I am dreading making that walk again tomorrow and the next day and all the other mornings I need to go. From what the guy in my bldg said the other day and from my experience this morning, he does it on Park just in a few feet from the curb... its just in far enough that the cars on vanderbilt can't see whats going on.

captain m · January 2006

Your responses about going to the gym and not having cash etc were well played. I also live on that corner but the only time I'm up at 5 am is if its from the night before.

There was a kid that used to hang out on our stoop with his BMX like he was watching who to mug coming home from the Q train so I asked who he was waiting for and he'd always say a friend so I'd just sit out there with him with my dog like that was my thing and eventually he went away becasue I kept asking him all kinds of questions about who's cool in rap. I've seen him eat at hing lung by the same corner.

captain m · January 2006

on which side of vanderbuilt & park?

jayce · January 2006

Captain M wrote: Your responses about going to the gym and not having cash etc were well played. I also live on that corner but the only time I'm up at 5 am is if its from the night before.

There was a kid that used to hang out on our stoop with his BMX like he was watching who to mug coming home from the Q train so I asked who he was waiting for and he'd always say a friend so I'd just sit out there with him with my dog like that was my thing and eventually he went away becasue I kept asking him all kinds of questions about who's cool in rap. I've seen him eat at hing lung by the same corner.

I wouldn't call it well played. it was the gods honest truth. Of all the people to hit up, I was a bad choice because I literally had like $5 in singles and that was it. He could take my swim cap and goggles if he wanted em.

But this guy was in his late 20s. And I have never seen him before. So I don't know if its the kid you see. But I like that you are willing to babysit him. He must hate that.

qtrain · January 2006

damn, jayce, sorry to hear this.

Any chance that you could describe the bike?

Captain M wrote: I'd just sit out there with him with my dog like that was my thing and eventually he went away becasue I kept asking him all kinds of questions about who's cool in rap

Heh.

jayce · January 2006

qtrain wrote: damn, jayce, sorry to hear this.

Any chance that you could describe the bike?

thanks.
just to say it was a BMX bike. i was so busy trying to explain to him that as annoyed as he was getting, I just didn't have anything else on me, that I didn't notice. its funny, because my memory is damn near photographic. but you put me into a situation like that and sadly it just doesn't stick as much as you hope it will. you know?

alafairnadia · January 2006

wow, I'm glad you're ok! and park & vandy is really scary, as I consider that one of the 'safe' blocks. I know someone who's been mugged twice on prospect btwn vandy and carlton.

was this on the Q train station side of the street or the other side? if it was on the other side, walk on the Q train side -- there's a doorman building just past the corner (well, not just past) that might be a safe haven to just run from the little fucker should he attempt it again.

jayce · January 2006

alafairnadia wrote:
was this on the Q train station side of the street or the other side? if it was on the other side, walk on the Q train side -- there's a doorman building just past the corner (well, not just past) that might be a safe haven to just run from the little fucker should he attempt it again.

thats right where it happened, believe it or not. on the Q train side, right in front of that building. maybe 20 feet in from vanderbilt. of all the spots I'd have picked out for a mugging, it wouldn't have ever been right there.

alafairnadia · January 2006

jayce wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]
was this on the Q train station side of the street or the other side? if it was on the other side, walk on the Q train side -- there's a doorman building just past the corner (well, not just past) that might be a safe haven to just run from the little fucker should he attempt it again.

thats right where it happened, believe it or not. on the Q train side, right in front of that building. maybe 20 feet in from vanderbilt. of all the spots I'd have picked out for a mugging, it wouldn't have ever been right there.

whoa! that's insane. and if anyone on the board lives in that building, tell your doorman to pay attention! yeesh. that's some scary shit.

jayce · January 2006

well, and like i said, i think the guy is working that corner. the guy in my bldg had his on the exact same spot only 2 weeks ago or so. 3am. mine at 5:30. and the things he said to the guy in my bldg were exactly the kinds of things he said to me. went down exactly the same way. i can't help but think if the cops just keep someone watching that corner (not a marked car) theres only a matter of time before they can catch him. but somehow i don't think my words of advice will be followed, you know?

so who knows. maybe i'll see him again at that hour in a few days time.

tony balls · January 2006

I need a little help here.....

I'm not trying to belittle your situation, but did this guy EVER threaten you? I read through this and I can't figure out what was keeping you from just walking on by.

jayce · January 2006

He made it a little hard when i tried because he kept circling around me with the bike. i literally couldn't walk forward. when i finally could it was because someone else was walking towards us.

call me stupid, but you approach a woman on a dark street when she is alone at 5:30 am, corner her, tell her its going to be a very bad day and then demand all her money, i'd say the threat is implied.

jamesondean · January 2006

Tony Balls wrote: I need a little help here.....

I'm not trying to belittle your situation, but did this guy EVER threaten you? I read through this and I can't figure out what was keeping you from just walking on by.

People know when they've been mugged; they don't get into a conversation about what valuables they're carrying on a lark.

qtrain · January 2006

Tony Balls wrote: I'm not trying to belittle your situation, but did this guy EVER threaten you? I read through this and I can't figure out what was keeping you from just walking on by.

And how many robberies have you walked away from, Tony Balls?

tony balls · January 2006

allright.....let me clarify.....

she says: "He just kept arguing so I started to walk away. As I was walking away he says "I'm not a bad dude." I kept walking.". So really all i'm wondering is why she didnt just walk away in the first place. It wasnt clear from her original post. She answered the question for me just fine. Case closed.

emily · January 2006

He was probably considerably more willing to let her "just walk away" once he had already taken her money. Logic much?

jayce · January 2006

EmilyM wrote: He was probably considerably more willing to let her "just walk away" once he had already taken her money. Logic much?

hahahahahahaha.
all like $5 of it.

actually i think it was more the guy walking up towards us. and hey, btw, if the guy who called the police for me this morning and waited with me is on this board, i *heart* you. big time. shows you how nice our neighborhood really is.

tony balls · January 2006

jayce wrote: [quote=EmilyM]He was probably considerably more willing to let her "just walk away" once he had already taken her money. Logic much?

hahahahahahaha.
all like $5 of it.

exactly. nice logic call.

regardless, glad it was only that much and no one got hurt. Maybe bring a cell next time you go to the gym and call someone if you see him, even if its a fake number to ward him off (311!)

jayce · January 2006

Tony Balls wrote: Maybe bring a cell next time you go to the gym and call someone if you see him, even if its a fake number to ward him off (311!)

I totally appreciate your trying to help and all. Seriously. But understand that he wanted to steal my cell too. So if I had had it, it wouldn't have really mattered... he'd have just stolen that in lieu of my having no money on me. He really didn't care what it was, he just wanted something. Given he couldn't make any money off my sports bra in my bag, all he got was the $5. Now one day when I am famous and all, thats sports bra might be a worthwhile heist.

tony balls · January 2006

yeah, that's always a possibility. But I figure it's better to have the means to call the cops than to let it happen again to you or to anyone else.

qtrain · January 2006

Subject: Re: So, I got mugged this morning.

jayce wrote: Corner of Vanderbilt and Park. same place that the guy in my apartment building got mugged.

Different mugger?

jayce · January 2006

Subject: Re: So, I got mugged this morning.

qtrain wrote: Different mugger?

My guess is that it was the same guy. I am waiting to see when the apartment guy comes home so we can compare notes. but when he told me about it, (i mentioned it here a few weeks back... search my postings and you'll see it), there were a number of similarities. including the "apology" at the end with the bit that hes not a bad guy. a little too coincidental in my book. hence my thought that he's working that one corner now.

emily · January 2006

It sounds to me like he's taking advantage of the poor visibility at that corner...if nothing else, it would probably pay off to walk on the other side of the street there.

qtrain · January 2006

from a previous thread:

jayce wrote: [quote=Innocent X]I don't know the source of this note but on my front door is a note stating that a "Beware. A male white was severly attacked and robbed at gunpoint a few doors down."

I live on Prospect Place between Carlton and Vanderbilt.

This is on top of the incident on that block mentioned here a few weeks back. Wondering if this block ain't for me anymore.

could be my neighbor. he was mugged on the corner of vanderbilt and park a couple of days ago. said the guy had a weapon or something in his pocket. but he wasn't attacked at all. said the guy was actually pretty ok in the end. didn't take anything but his cash.

jayce · January 2006

EmilyM wrote: It sounds to me like he's taking advantage of the poor visibility at that corner...if nothing else, it would probably pay off to walk on the other side of the street there.

i'm walking down the middle, baby. i want headlights on me.

tony balls · January 2006

jayce wrote: [quote=EmilyM]It sounds to me like he's taking advantage of the poor visibility at that corner...if nothing else, it would probably pay off to walk on the other side of the street there.

i'm walking down the middle, baby. i want headlights on me.

hahaha

jayce · January 2006

qtrain wrote: from a previous thread:
[quote=jayce]

could be my neighbor. he was mugged on the corner of vanderbilt and park a couple of days ago. said the guy had a weapon or something in his pocket. but he wasn't attacked at all. said the guy was actually pretty ok in the end. didn't take anything but his cash.

thats the one. i didnt see a weapon myself, but the way my neighbor described the conversations, they were pretty identical. how often do you have a robbery start out with someone telling you that you are going to have a bad day and end it with telling you that they are in a hard place and they arent a bad guy. it was just weird. descriptions pretty close. and for all i know he had a weapon in his pocket, but i sure as heck wasn't gonna make him show it to me. i'm a comply kinda girl when threatened. i dont have anything on me that can't be replaced. even when i do have stuff on me.

So, I got mugged this morning.

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