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So, I got mugged this morning. - Page 2 — Brooklynian

So, I got mugged this morning.

2

Comments

  • jayce
    jayce
    So let me just give you all my frustation with this whole process.

    Get mugged. Know what the guy looks like. Cops want me to go immediately to look at pictures. I'm willing to cancel my work calls and all and go. They call over, no detectives around at 6am after we drive around for a while. Fine. So they tell me to call over in a few hours. So I do. Trying really hard to remember this dudes face and all.

    I call at 9. They won't even process the report until 4pm. call back then. Can I come in and look at pics in the meantime, since I can still remember the guy? No, there has to be a report number assigned to it first. Rrrr. More trying to remember.

    4pm, I call over. Report still not processed. If I am lucky, they will get to it tomorrow because "the workload isn't that heavy right now." Again, can I come in to see pictures? "There has to be a report number first, sweetie." And even better, the report number is just the info on the report that the officer wrote up... i.e. it needs to be transcribed. Whatever. When that is done, can I then go in and look at pics? No. Cause then a report number gets made into a case and that has a case number and a detective. Then I can go in. So who wants to bet that I don't remember what this guy looks like by Friday? Cause I am thinking its a slim chance I am going to remember his face that well.

    Is it any wonder they can't catch people around here? Fucks sake, I can show you his picture now and you can do the beauracratic bullshit afterwards. but if you have someone who can remember a face and is willing to waste their time looking at the books, take them up on the goddamn offer!

    whatever.
    (heres the part where i can finally say "lock you doors" and amuse myself.)
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    that's awful! bleh.
  • ben
    ben
    First off, I think this sucks that it happened.

    When I read this my thought is that this guy has a drug problem and this is the only way he knows to get his fix.

    I interpret the comment "it's going to be a very bad day and he's in a tough place" to mean that it's a bad day for him because he needs his fix.

    This is also in line with him apologizing at the end.

    I also think this guy is probably less harmless than it may appear if this is the case.

    I think if this guy approaches someone and they were to shout "GET THE F--- AWAY FROM ME!" he would bolt.
  • jamesondean
    jamesondean
    Ben wrote: First off, I think this sucks that it happened.

    When I read this my thought is that this guy has a drug problem and this is the only way he knows to get his fix.

    I interpret the comment "it's going to be a very bad day and he's in a tough place" to mean that it's a bad day for him because he needs his fix.

    This is also in line with him apologizing at the end.

    I also think this guy is probably less harmless than it may appear if this is the case.

    I think if this guy approaches someone and they were to shout "GET THE F--- AWAY FROM ME!" he would bolt.
    Anyone else interested in tellling the mugging victim what she *should* have done? Anyone? Get it out of your system, people.

    Jesus.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    JamesOnDean wrote: [quote=Ben]
    I think if this guy approaches someone and they were to shout "GET THE F--- AWAY FROM ME!" he would bolt.
    Anyone else interested in tellling the mugging victim what she *should* have done? Anyone? Get it out of your system, people.

    Jesus.

    I know where you're comin' from, but I think that Ben is just puttin' that out there if someone should find themselves in the situation in the future, not telling her what she should have done this morning.
  • jayce
    jayce
    JamesOnDean wrote:
    Anyone else interested in tellling the mugging victim what she *should* have done? Anyone? Get it out of your system, people.
    Jesus.
    thanks.
    my theory on it (and why i don't tend to take it very personally), from having counseled survivors for years on rape and domestic abuse, sometimes people think about what someone else *should* have done as a way of keeping themselves free of the reality that it can happen to anyone. you never know how you are going to react in a situation and monday morning quarterbacking is usually done by people who weren't in the game or knew how the game was unfolding. as I used to say all the time, it doesnt mean they are bad people, or have bad intentions... its usually quite the opposite... but it usually the facade over the fear of "well this is how I would keep myself safe." thing is, it doesn't always work. some things you just have to play by ear and trust your gut. my gut got me off without any injury, a loss of $5 and home safe and sound to walk that block another day.

    but thanks for pointing it out and arguing it back. you're sweet.
  • medusa
    medusa
    Jayce, maybe you could PM queen_of_pies and get her number so that you could calll her before you leave for the gym for the next few days to watch for you while you pass her corner. Maybe it would make you feel safer tomorrow or the next day.

    Anyway, it sucks. The mugger sounds like a loser indeed, but a big scary one and that sucks for everyone.
  • ben
    ben
    James, sorry if you thought I was trying to tell Jayce what she should have done, that was never my intention. In fact, I think she did the right thing because she was able to defuse the situation with no harm and with a very minimal loss.

    What I was trying to point out is that I think this guy is different from a guy with a gun lurking in the corner and mugging people. Yes, he mugged her, yes that sucks, yes we should be aware that it can happen to anyone and should be prepared.

    However, I don't think people should be walking around scared in the neighborhood because of a guy like this. I think people should use their street smarts which, by the way, is what Jayce did, and they will be able to handle a situation like this.

    I also think it is very useful to think about what other options a person may have in a situation, not to blame the victim but for everyone else to learn and be mentally prepared in case it happens. Be educated, be prepared and know what your options are in case you find yourself in this situation.

    Or we can all just live our lives in fear and become victims over and over again.
  • escap
    escap
    It's been a while, thankfully, but when I was younger I had to endure this kind of thing a lot. They always pick on the little guy, you know?

    Anyway, I think you handled it amazingly well. It sounds like you kept your head about you, didn't panic, and ended up doing exactly the right thing. That sucks what happened, and I definitely hope they either catch the guy or at least he feels enough neighborhood heat to think twice in the future (probably wishful thinking, unfortunately, but I'm allowed that).
  • smokin joe
    smokin joe
    very sorry to hear about it. i was mugged near the same corner several years ago--with a 9mm stuck in my chest in my case. likewise, they didn't get much, but i still felt completely violated.

    anyway, your mugging was crime number 1.

    crime number 2 was the police response. inexcusable.

    everyone who lives here should be angry about both.

    i think you should copy your comments above to the mayor, the police commissioner, and our city council rep. in fact, we all should.

    the cops blew it on this one, and showed an astounding lack of interest in solving the crime, and that affects all of us who live here. whether they ultimately catch this guy or not, the police were not doing their job.
  • easternpkwyq
    easternpkwyq
    jayce wrote:

    i'm walking down the middle, baby. i want headlights on me.
    This is actually not a bad idea at all. If you feel at all uneasy on your morning walk, walk in the street (just maybe not in the middle of the street!). You have greater visibility and are, therefore, less likely to be targeted. Something I learned years ago in self defense class.

    And Smokin' Joe is right - please send your recounting of the process with the police to the Mayor, Ray Kelly and your city council person - it is an outrage that that's how the police dealt with you.
  • liftandcut
    liftandcut
    I often drive around the neighborhood looking for parking spots between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. I'll keep my eyes peeled for this character and maybe even snap a shot with my cell phone. I'm sure we've all seen this dude before hanging around stoops and such. If someone sees him in the Chinese spot again, try to take a pic, or at least walk in with your head up and look aware. Little things like that help dissuade these types from victimizing.
  • supersilent
    supersilent

    Subject: hey

    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.

    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.

    hey jayce
    just wanted to say that i hope i was able to help you out a bit after the crazy incident you had to go through. i felt really bad and it kinda gave me a big wake up call, especially after seeing you literally right after the mugging. you're totally lucky that you're ok and the bastard only left with a few bucks.
    had to make the early a.m. walk again tonight and i got kinda paranoid when i saw a kid on a bike (yes!) and he promptly disappeared when i started walking in the middle of the street. when i turned on vanderbilt, i saw what could have been an undercover car pulled over on the side.
    i hope they're doing something about that corner... i know i'll always be aware of the early a.m. walk down park pl.
    just know that you're lucky you didn't get hurt! who knows, it could have been me if i arrived a few mins. earlier

    best,
    b
  • liftandcut
    liftandcut
    Also, don't be afraid to yell at the top of your lungs if you are approached again. It really works.
  • jayce
    jayce
    Ok, just because I am so DONE with this, does anyone know off the top of their head how to get to the 77th precinct office? I can't even tell what the cross street is. There's gotta be a bus line that goes down there....

    anyone?
  • quig
    quig
    Sorry about the mugging.

    I don't know the number, but take the eastbound bus running on Dean. Take it Utica and it's two blocks south.
  • jayce
    jayce
    thanks.
  • hal
    hal
    The B65 on Dean St. to Utica

    or

    The B45 on Washington via St.Johns Place to Utica
  • hal
    hal
    Here's a helpful link:

    http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/busbkln.pdf
  • xueling
    xueling
    Sorry this happened to you, it would really scare me too. I used to live on Vanderbilt and walk down Park to get to the gym early in the morning too. Sometimes I walked right down the middle of the street and often I jogged there (seemed like it would deter the muggers more than walking). You're going to work out anyway, right, why not get an extra 5 min of cardio in?

    I often keep $20 in my bag if I don't have my wallet, simply b/c I think it's enough to just hand over and they'll be satisfied. Maybe you could carry an old non-working cellphone in your bag too, just to get them to go away and get yourself to a safe spot?
  • jayce
    jayce
    xueling wrote: I often keep $20 in my bag if I don't have my wallet, simply b/c I think it's enough to just hand over and they'll be satisfied. Maybe you could carry an old non-working cellphone in your bag too, just to get them to go away and get yourself to a safe spot?
    Yeah, the mugging money. The detectives were just telling me that too. Not a bad idea. But i like your idea about an old cell. I have one that will do the trick nicely. Good suggestion! Ha.

    Ok, so here's the deal folks. The 3 detectives assigned to my case are WONDERFUL. Seriously. Once I could get through the bureaucracy of the desk, which is why I just went down there, they were great.

    Turns out there are several incidents matching the same description. All early morning strikes, all same basic gig. After going through some mug shots (which was somewhat futile), the detectives and I drove around for a while hunting for the guy. But come on, its 2pm... he's still napping off his hunt from last night.

    So the lead detective (I didnt get his name just yet, but I will) is planning on meeting up with me next tuesday morning so we can drive around at 5am looking for the guy. All of these cases seem to be getting consolidated under Brooklyn Robbery, rather than just the general detectives handling each of the cases individually, so it sounds like there is some good momentum.

    So yeah, nothing official yet... guy is still out there, but they really are working on it. And given this guy is getting like $5-10 a pop, they are working a lot harder on it than I would have expected. So thats kind of reassuring, you know?
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    sorry to hear. i havent been mug in nyc since the early 90's. i used to get mug alot. things have gotten better. i hope they catch him. but the old new yorker in me doubts it :/.
  • emily
    emily
    Cool, I'm glad to know the detectives are actively working on this. Won't the guy be surprised when he gets caught!
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    wow, I'm glad you went to the station! sounds like there's actual progress being made! and good luck finding the guy.
  • kidicarus
    kidicarus
    thanks for going to the police and keeping us all safe (hopefully).

    easternpkway, any other tips from the self-defense class about handling this kind of thing? walking in the road is a good idea.
  • easternpkwyq
    easternpkwyq
    To be honest, I don't remember a lot of them - it was years ago. Except if something does happen, just start yelling, but don't yell "help" - yell something like "fire" - apparently more people respond to that than "help". Someone told me today that a friend's mother saw someone who looked like they were up to no good crossing the street towards her and she pointed at him and very firmly said "do not come one step closer" and he didn't. So, I think things like that work - mostly because they take the potential attacker by surprise and they don't really know what to do.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    the words I 'learned' in my self-defense class (I won it at a NARAL happy hour. *snort*) were "STOP" followed by 'LEAVE ME ALONE'. and lots of shin kicking.

    considering how often I either kick cars blocking intersections, or pretend do, I learned the kicking part of the lesson.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    guys dont take self defense! if they have a gun and stuff. i think its safer to give money!
  • atomische
    atomische

    Subject: so many stories!

    I've read and heard so many stories lately about getting mugged on Vanderbilt and XX.

    Last week I was walking home from Pintchik ... at 3pm ... and was stopped by the police on Prospect PL ... them asking me if I saw anything suspicious.

    Unfortunately -- or maybe fortunately for me -- the answer was no.
  • escap
    escap
    looks like we're all about to get mugged again by the transit workers.....
    http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/20cnd-transit.html


    :P :lol: :roll:


    woah, let's not break the page now! :evil: thanks, vanilla. :)
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