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I was walking home from the train station at 11.30pm when three young men wearing dark hoodies started to follow me from a distance. I crossed over the road hoping to lose them, but they quickened their pace and crossed over to. This didn't look good! As i walked further I noticed the main road was deserted, before i could even blink they had suddenly surrounded me.
One to my right shouted 'hand over the bag!'
This was my shoulder bag that contained four chapters of my second novel, that i had been working on, perhaps it was this fact that made me say on the spur of the moment- 'You'll have to fight for it!' [how crazy is that!]
I raised my fists and they backed off, now i got a proper look at them, two were a little bit taller than me at six feet, aged around 20, the other was about 5' 6'' and looked hardly 17/18. One stood to my right, the leader, medium built, one to my left- and the youngest in the middle facing me. we were just three feet apart, now they raised their fists as well and spread out a little- at this moment a lot of things go through one's head. the leader to my right shouted, come we can take him! But the other two were still reluctant as we jostled like boxers for position, myself being threatened from three sides.
I said the bag only contains books!and then i took of my shoulder bag and put it on the pavement so that i could fight properly.
The leader shouted again, ' give us your wallet!
'You'll have to fight for it i said again! Crazy!
Thinking about it now part of the reason for my defiance was i hadn't been able to write too much yesterday and had then decided to read about one my favourite heroes Alexander the great ! in the library.
'Come on you shit houses! shouted the ring leader to his mates- we Can take him- but they still didn't dare; so the leader moved forward to hit me- i moved forward to return the blow- we were now only a few moments from a clash- when his mate grabbed the bag from the pave ment and ran- then the little guy ran and fell over in the middle of the road- which was funny- and then the leader turned and fled too! all this incident took place in about 10 mins.
I called the police who took down the details and said it probably wouldn't be classed as robbery because they hadn't hit me! I said,is that so!
Ofcourse im happy to be still in one piece- but sad that i lost them 4 chapters- and i feel a lot better getting that of my chest! watch your back guys!
I find the attitude of the police disappointing, but sadly, they probably have so much on their plates that they have to prioritise.
What is more saddening is the society that we now live in, where you cannot walk down the street safely at night.
Take care of yourself.
WHAT!? Not a robbery? Of course it's a robbery - maybe not a mugging but definitely a robbery. I hate the way the police seem to put a value on dispicable crimes like this.
It's funny how we react at these times and do mad things, which in retrospect seem a bit foolhardy.
Two years ago when I was walking through the quiet market town of Horsham, where I lived at that time, near a quiet underpass at 11am in the morning I hasten to point out, this person (not sure if it was a man or woman as it happened so fast and they were in scarf and long coat)suddenly grabbed my hand bag. Well,luckily I was holding it quite tightly, He pulled and I pulled no way were they having it. I was just going to bring my leg up and kick them in the groin( I was surprised at that reaction!) when they let go and scarpered. I reported it to the police but nothing happened. Looking back I think I was mad holding on to it.They might have had a knife. There was not much in it really but something just made me so mad there was no way he was getting it.You just never know how you will react at such times. Glad you are safe.
And thanks again- will tell you have the police responded soon.
May I suggest pressing the police for a crime number? Whether they class this incident as a robbery or not, it won't even be recorded without a crime number.
Someone spiked my drink a few weeks ago and because I wasn't assaulted, and my friends carried me home, the police said there was no offence committed.
I was poisoned and Im still breastfeeding. NO OFFENCE!
They stole your four chapters and thats a robbery of irreplaceable and original works of art if I ever heard of it. I completely agree with Scratch (above) in that the police simply want to keep their statistics looking rosy. Ive heard that going into the police station and being a nuisance helps, as does using the magic phrase victim of crime, but I must say in honesty that it didnt work for me.
Again, you were a little reckless but very brave. Best wishes to you and karma to them.
Makes me feel better to know some people stand up to these types though, nice one dude!
And, yes, Mr. Policeman, it IS robbery. Vijay is missing his bag!
Have one of whatever it takes to calm your nerves, Vijay. Hope you`ve got that novel on your computer somewhere. And maybe one day this experience will be grist to your mill! Take care!
Police response- after the young men ran I phoned the emergency services at 11.50pm from my mobile, I requested that they send someone quickly so that we might be able to catch them; she said its better I go home. I said I will wait on the road. 30 mins pass, no police. I phone again, she apologizes and says officers on the way. Another 15 mins pass- I decide to go home as no one comes.
At 1.45 pm, officer comes to my house and wakes me up!
He is very courteous, apologizes for the delay and says that there are only 5 officers on night duty- blame the government. He seems like a good guy- I dont want to argue with him. I request that I will give my full statement in the morning.
Another officer comes in the morning, takes full statement.
And adds this might be theft and not robbery.
What is the difference?
Theft, if the culprits are caught will mean a fine. Robbery- if they had hit you, then upto 4 months in jail.
I said they were about to hit me if I hadnt put up my fists.
Funny part- he reads my statement back to me!
They said- hand over the bag.
You said, youd have to fight for it.
I shake my head in disbelief and trying hard not laugh!
Today I learnt its been classed as a robbery.
Now hoping that someone hands in my bag.
jay- just my name was on one of the chapters and some documents.
Still can't beat Vijay's line "you'll have to fight for it". classic
I try not to buy into this violent world I supposedly live in but I have to admit to having a terrible fear that those I love will one day 'be brave'...and die. Sometimes bravery is knowing how stupid it would be to try and fight back
Bored robots- you seem like a cool dude, full stop!
Isabella how scary is that having an intruder? glad u guys are okay.
There was also the time when someone was quite deliberately blocking my car, the guy was sitting in his car, grinning, wondering what 2 women would do when they couldn't drive out. She leaned out of the car door, yelling "you going to get out of the way, or what? (followed by some incredible invective!) He got out of the car and came forward, menacing, "what did you say?" She got out and went toward him, repeating it all word for word. At the same time I rolled the car forward until my bumper was against his passenger door ... he got in and drove off really really fast! You don't mix with my daughter, ever!
We met at christmas. It's me Teresa :-)
I am sorry to hear about your bad experience and I am not going to say anythiing about standing up for yourself for good reason
I hope all is well
Teresa
My generation 'respected' their parents and would never have done anything that would make them ashamed of us.
Not all the younger generation, of course, are future muggers - I have some great kids at school, pre teens, I feel for them as they go out into this increasingly violent World.
They shot him in the head and leg - he is brain dead and being kept alive on a machine.
I HOPE THOSE WHO DID THIS CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT.
I don't think there's much that you can do about thugs like this except catch them, lock them up and never let them out. Unfortunately catching them is the almost impossible bit, unless someone who knows tells on them.
Very sad.
I hadn't heard about this poor bloke, but I feel for his family and friends - really, these people are sick in the head. Lock 'em up.