From our friends at Park Slope Parents comes an email about a mugging on St. Johns Place between Seventh and Eighth Avenue. Of course, it’s the sort of thing that happens everywhere in Brooklyn, but sometimes Park Slope events get posted and remind everyone the bucolic Slope is perhaps less so than thought:
A neighbor on my block (St Johns between 7th and 8th Aves) has
reported a mugging at gunpoint last night (after dark). My neighbor apparently was walking up St Johns from 7th Ave, turned to enter a house, then while fumbling for keys was approached by two men, who then forced the neighbor into the house vestibule. My neighbor was then threatened with a gun and robbed. These details were posted up and down our block this morning. There does seem to be an increase in this kind of crime lately in our neighborhood.I intend to replace some of the light bulbs in my house lanterns (improve the lighting), and warn my older, teen-age children to watch out for the possibility of being followed, especially after dark. Starting next week it will be dark at around 4 PM every day, which means my older sons will be arriving home from school after dark. This of course makes me worry even more.
Does anyone have any good, additional suggestions concerning how we might keep ourselves and our families safer during times of possibly increased street crime? I intend to teach my kids (of course) not to resist anyone who has a weapon, but what else should I tell them? Does anyone know if neighborhood watch organizations are of any help? Maybe it is time to organize some of those on our blocks here in Park Slope.
Always unnerving stuff.
8 responses so far ↓
1 andy // Nov 2, 2008 at 1:26 pm
just wanted to say that bucolic means pastoral or rural…
2 jb // Nov 2, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Yes, hand over stuff, don’t go anywhere with a person with a weapon, and take a self defense class. Prepareinc.com has amazing classes for all ages.
3 Marie // Nov 2, 2008 at 8:38 pm
If I were a sheep I would consider the Slope pastoral. I might even bleat a little ditty to scare the wolves away…
My advice about street crime? Remember where it keeps its nuts.
4 ll // Nov 2, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I’m not 100% sure what this means: “don’t go anywhere with a person with a weapon”
At first, I thought it meant that you should not hang out with anyone who packs a weapon – because they might try to use it to defend against a mugging, thereby escalating the situation.
But, then I was wondering if the actual meaning was that a victim should not go anywhere with a mugger (i.e. allow oneself to be kidnapped).
I’m not sure.
5 Demetri // Nov 3, 2008 at 8:56 am
Maybe you and the other parents on the block should trade off having an evening block watch with mobile phone at the ready (from 4 to 6 or 7 pm).
6 spnder // Nov 3, 2008 at 11:33 am
Definitely check your surroundings as you approach your front door. I’ve known several people who’ve gotten mugged or assaulted as they’re looking for their keys. If late at night and you notice someone suspicious, it helps to walk in the middle of the street.
If there’s no one around, keep your head of a swivel. That’s just city life.
7 J // Nov 3, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Not so sure about an increase, I was jumped a couple of years ago on Carroll st between 7th and 8th.
Fortunately, they got nothing from me.
Its the city, make sure you always keep your eyes open. Watch blind corners and always look behind you.
8 caligula // Nov 18, 2008 at 2:53 pm
keep an eye out over your shoulder when you walk around.
I would almost guarantee, and this will offend I am sure the PC types, that 85% at least of these crimes are committed by black youths, Therefore, profile, if you see a black youth in a pack on your street , run for the door.
Truth hurts. When I got jumped it was black youths, every single person I know who was a victim of a crime (black people included), the assailant was black.