Mugging near 8th Ave and Saint Johns Pl

opossumqueen · November 2007

I know someone who was mugged, and thought I'd post the info here. The police were notified and the (still loose as of now) culprit seems have done the exact same thing in several burroughs.

Details.
Near 8th Ave and Saint Johns Pl
Friday afternoon, around 4pm.
Woman is buzzing her roommate to her in as she has a cart full fo groceries. She is waiting at the lobby door (already in first, no lock door). A large, strange man comes in behind her. He looks "clean cut, not out of place or suspicious". He suddenly grabs her bag and she resists, pulling back (no apparent weapon).

She realizes she can't get it back, asks to at least get work papers out and he takes off. She runs out screaming at him, he jumps in a car and takes off. One bystander gets the plate number when she realizes who the woman is yelling about. The woman then goes in and calls the police who quickly respond but are of little help.

The plates turned up nothing but the cops said a man who fits the description has done the exact same thing in several neighborhoods in the last few weeks: Grabs bag as woman goes in building then jumps in a car and leaves.

Just thought I would share this.

Mod note: Just tweaked the headline to give a bit more of the specifics.

MOD · November 2007

Fuk?!

around 4pm.

That's early!

duffyssis · November 2007

Subject: Muggings

I thought I would pass along some advice that gave me piece of mind.

A policeman once advised me that a good habit to follow is that before you enter your building, every single time, take a moment and stop to look around full circle. Make kind of a show of it. It will unnerve a potential thief because they figure you are not distracted and are paying close attentions to details around you.

I also do that on the subway platform when I am stuck waiting a while.

opossumqueen · November 2007

I agree with the advice to make it obvious that you're paying attention, but that probably wouldn't have helped in this situation (which part of why I posted it as an FYI to everyone).

It sounds like the guy is good at looking and acting normal, like he might live in this building you're going into. Plus he had a car ready. The time of day also shocked me. It was a crowded spot outside (he took her bag in in the foyer) so had he been on foot, it's likely he would have been caught if she'd continued to chase him.

Thanks to everyone who posts this kind of information--it's good to keep our neighbors informed.

verucasalt · November 2007

Last night while I was walking home I wasn't too far from my door when I noticed a clean cut guy standing near my apt building door. In my gut I didn't have a good feeling. He seemed to have no reason to be there and it looked as if he took his cell phone out to pretend he was making a call. I was leary about digging for my keys and having my back to him as I tried to get into the building so I kept walking. I walked up a little further and crossed over the street and turned around and wouldn't ya know it he was now walking up the street. I am glad I went with my gut now after reading this. You just never know.

Mugging near 8th Ave and Saint Johns Pl

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories