Mugging in Honor Oak Park Saturday 14 January 2012
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Tinkerbell
Posts: 361
Joined: Dec 2007
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20-01-2012 02:36 PM
hoona - all good tactics I think, I do the same. It sort of gives me comfort to know that my valuables aren't all in my handbag so there's a good chance that if it ever happens, they'll at least not get the whole lot. Agree it mostly feels very safe in HOP. I've never been mugged and the only time someone tried to snatch my bag was in leafy NW3 (Hampstead). Let's hope it stays that way.
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Cellar Door
Posts: 356
Joined: Oct 2007
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20-01-2012 07:37 PM
Hello mitchy999,
Thank you very much for taking the time to warn people in the area about this incident last Saturday night.
And those residents of Grierson Road who came to help you were amazing, as you said.
What also amazes me is your quick recovery time. I’m heartened to read that in the space of just a few days you pushed through your anxiety and on the other side you found that you “…feel so strong now”.
I’m pleased to read on here how others employ various tactics to minimise risk. There are many others, of course, such as learning self-defence (physical and verbal) to carrying little devices with you (personal safety alarms). Many others. One tactic that I quite like, that one of my lady friends uses, is to wave every so often as though you've just seen a friend somewhere down the road or in a window. It could make you look a bit crazy but then muggers probably know best to avoid crazy people.
This thread has me reflecting when I’m lumbering home along quiet roads in the dark. I’m a 6 foot plus bloke with a big beard. Think Chewbacca. But balding.
So, when I find myself hulking down Devonshire Road late at night and there is a lady walking alone in front of me, looking over her shoulder furtively every few seconds, then I’ll switch to the other side of the road. Then overtake. And finally move back to their/my/our side further on, with an appropriate safe distance, so I can turn into my street.
I could hold back. Walk a bit slower. But my bladder is usually bursting. That’s me getting old and all that.
I know many other chaps that do these little types of dances down the street in an attempt to ameliorate concerns.
Oh, I really like hoona’s positives. A little over a year ago this thread emerged that certainly chimes in with hoona’s positives in our part of the world.
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Jane_D
Posts: 189
Joined: Jan 2010
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21-01-2012 07:58 PM
Your thoughtfulness is a credit to tall bearded Antipodeans, Cellar Door.
But unfortunately your strategy for not walking right behind lone women pedestrians at night clashes with mine for avoiding being followed. I cross to the other side of the road, wait for the bearded bloke to get ahead, then cross back and follow him. Endless confusion could arise if our strategies coincided one dark night...
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roz
Posts: 1,796
Joined: Mar 2005
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21-01-2012 10:44 PM
Indeed but I agree about the bit about seeming a little crazy. I used to live on Perry Vale about half way down for a number of years. I went out a lot and often caught the night bus home or one the late buses which meant that I had to go through the underpass to get home. That part was bad enough so I used to run all the way through but I found the bit before and after the car park scary as it was easy enough to be dragged in there.
I sometimes felt someone was following me so I sometimes used to burst into song, or even turn around to directly challenge people, usually men, walking behind me. Who knows how many innocent members of the public I must have terrified but I did feel better and more reassured about coming back late. So whatever works for you....
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