The Life and Times of J.Z. Garrod

Strange and terrible musings from a world traveller who has been to very few places.

Rash of Muggings Concerns Common Sense

If you didn’t know already, South Vancouver is in the middle of a vicious crime wave!

Link here.

 Now, I don’t mean to be insensitive, but I think there is a crucial – almost vital – part of these muggings, that ties them all together:

“Vancouver police are warning residents in south Vancouver about a spate of violent muggings of people walking home alone late at night.”

Really? You were mugged walking alone late at night? As far as I know, that seems to be the most popular place that muggings happen – it’s almost cliché. I mean if you don’t want to get mugged – and I would assume that most don’t – wouldn’t you try to avoid walking home alone late at night?

I’m sure there are plenty of people who do this on a common basis without any regard to their safety. I’m sure their reasons are good ones, like going to work a night shift or going to hook up with your fuck-buddy. Seriously though, it seems like there is some common sense lacking in this equation.

 Here’s a simple tip to avoid – most, not all – muggings. Don’t walk home alone at night.

Problem solved.

3 Comments »

  kat wrote @

well i guess i can see your point, although of course in an ideal world, we would be able to go where we want, when we want…of course, we all know that unfortunately isn’t the case..however, as one of the victims of this “rash of muggings”, my experience was a little different. i can’t speak for any of the other people assaulted, but i for one, was NOT walking alone. i was walking home with 3 other people, 2 male, 1 other female. we weren’t robbed, although myself and the other female both had accessible purses, and i know that some of the other victims weren’t robbed either. i believe the street parlance for what happened is that we were “jumped”. what that comes down to is getting punched, kicked, and thrown against walls, doors, and down to the concrete repeatedly. so maybe some of the victims were mugged, but we were just plain shit kicked. so i’m not really sure how we could have avoided pre-meditated, cold blooded and random assault. maybe you have some ideas?

  jzgarrod wrote @

I was certainly mislead into thinking that all the attacks were ‘muggings’ and not – as you say – jumpings. The news reported all the victims as being alone, and subsequently mugged by being punched once and their belongings being taken.

I suppose what I was getting at was that while we would love to live in a place where being out late at night is safe, it is important to remember that this is still a ‘big’ city, and these things can often happen. In your case I agree that there is little that you can do beyond being out late at night.

I think Vancouver has a problem in which because so much of the city is residential neighbourhoods, these actions can happen simply because there is so little foot-traffic at night. There seems to be plenty of places for jumpings, and muggings to happen simply because areas become desolate after dark.

  Raz wrote @

I used to have a hobby.

It was called leaving late night clubs in the middle of the black winter night in the most crime-ridden area of Manchester (UK). May as well be called ‘Mugchester’. A place called ‘moss-side’. THE most dangerous place in Britain.

I would leave the club, because I was sick of people and just brazenly walk along the (flickering streetlight optional) streets. I would often overtly walk in the middle of the road (as there are of course no cars that drive in this dangerous area late at night). This draws attention to you and you are viewable from nearby houses. And it shows you are not scared.

If a gang of youths are around or walking towards you look at them straight in the eyes (non-aggressively), possibly smile or nod and say ‘hi’.

This completely stumps them…..reminds them they are human….tells them you dont consider them to be a threat or total scum…..and that they have a mother/ girlfriend…..treats them like people, (which alot of people dont do as they suspect them)…..

Number of mugging or even incidents:

NIL.

Dangerous? Misguided? Lucky as a Sod?

OR psychological genius?

Answers on a postcard:

911 Middle of Nowhere
Darksville, Mugland,
M10 3AE


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