Held at gunpoint?!

Watch the police blotter in those local free papers if you want to keep up with local crime incidents . . . the only area that has always stood out to me is 8th Ave and President/Union, usually people held up after going to one of the ATMs on Flatbush. The robber has an easy escape into the park.

Personally, I think people are nervous about what they are unfamiliar with. Fifth Ave?? Lord knows I've walked down 4th and 5th Aves from the Atlantic/Pacific express subway stop a hundred times late at night . . .

There *are* projects that start at 3rd Ave and head into Boerum Hill, but I couldn't tell you what the deal is there. More gunshot is a good guess.

PS
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Until Cucina's and 200 5th Ave got the ball rolling, 5th Avenue was indeed a shooting gallery not so long ago. I witnessed a shooting happen at a store on the corner of President and 5th. It wasn't unusual to hear gunfire in that area. Then again like another poster said, shit happens everywhere in NYC.

I lived at 5th and Baltic about 8 years ago, when the area was much less developed and generally sketchier than it is now, and I never felt unsafe walking around at night or encountered any serious problems. I definitely wouldn't hesitate to live in that area now, at least not for safety-related reasons. It may not be the most charming section of the Slope, but I doubt that you're much more likely to have a gun pulled on you there than wherever.

Oh, and I live in PH now, and while I feel very comfortable here, I would not say that it's safER than the 5th/Baltic area of the North Slope.

I was held up at gunpoint 7 years ago when I first moved to the slope. Actually it was on my very first day - the day I moved in. It happened on Caroll and PPW. My wallet litterally had not one dollar in it. They were pissed, through my wallet on the street and told me to walk away from them. They then ran away. Didn't even take my credit cards. Scary thing is it was a Sunday night, only about 7 or 8pm. It can happen anywhere.

There was a murder at 2nd and 5th about 18mo ago and numerous robberies along 5th Ave between Union and 9th.
Yes things are much different on 5th then they were a few years ago, but those of you that think it is Cobble Hill in terms of crime are fooling themselves.

I thought the avenues are safer at night. My new strategy is to walk down to 6th on Union, which is almost always busy - with cars and dog walkers - and then walk on 6th home. I find the side streets more empty and inviting to robbers.

It was on 1st Street near 6th Avenue.
I am not sure, why they target 6th Avenue, if they do. I am very glad to hear that even later at night 5th is ok to walk around on.

mypasswordwontwork wrote: Was this murder a mugging gone wrong? What were the details?

If I remember correctly it was a fight that started up on 6th or 7th and went on for some time w/ all the requisite screaming etc... and ended with a shooting at 5th and 2nd. I beleve both perpetrator and vitim lived in the neighborhood.

A girl I know was held up after work (still light out) a year or so ago on President (maybe Carroll, I can't remember exactly) btw. PPW and 8th Ave. She took her keys out of her bag, walked up her stoop to open the door and a teenage girl came up behind her and stuck a gun in her back. She gave up her purse, and the girl ran back to the street and threw it to her (boy)friend who was waiting behind a car and they took off running towards the park.

Two teen crackheads. Got caught, too......and, even though I don't think it makes a bit of difference, they were white.

I say this because people have stereotypes about what a criminal looks like. They can be white teenage chicks in broad daylight on a "nice" street in a "good" part of town.

miriam wrote: About stereotypes -
You are right. The two guys who wanted to rob me were not black either. I think they were latinos, but it happened so fast that they could have been white as well.

Is there anything we can do to prevent being robbed???

When my daughter was robbed, she was busily chatting on her cellphone. I think people need to be more aware of their surroundings, etc. and just pay more attention in general!

pitu wrote: Watch the police blotter in those local free papers if you want to keep up with local crime incidents . . . the only area that has always stood out to me is 8th Ave and President/Union, usually people held up after going to one of the ATMs on Flatbush. The robber has an easy escape into the park.

AHHH !! I live on 8th ave between union and president !!

I've been there for a little over a year and all I've witness two car break in's.

I was mugged on President near 8th in broad daylight 3 years ago.

It was during that rash of muggings around Easter that year. It was a pair-- one on foot, one in a car--and they did maybe a dozen in PS within a week before they got caught. Sometimes they had a knife. (Not when they robbed me, and I had a total white trash "Get back here with my purse, motherfucker!" reaction.)

Geniuses they were, they used my cell to call friends and order takeout. Which made their apprehension and conviction on multiple counts quite easy. So last laugh, morons! You averaged $20 per mugging, but got multiple felonies in return! Crime really doesn't pay.

jennitrixie wrote: I was mugged on President near 8th in broad daylight 3 years ago.

It was during that rash of muggings around Easter that year. It was a pair-- one on foot, one in a car--and they did maybe a dozen in PS within a week before they got caught. Sometimes they had a knife. (Not when they robbed me, and I had a total white trash "Get back here with my purse, motherfucker!" reaction.)

Geniuses they were, they used my cell to call friends and order takeout. Which made their apprehension and conviction on multiple counts quite easy. So last laugh, morons! You averaged $20 per mugging, but got multiple felonies in return! Crime really doesn't pay.

Wow - very illuminating jenni. While it's a horrible thing to have happen, from what you describe these sound like fairly isolated events.