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Mugging Attempt on Prospect Place/Underhill — Brooklynian

Mugging Attempt on Prospect Place/Underhill

vagabond
vagabond
edited November -1 in Prospect Heights
Last night at about 7PM(!!!) four young black guys tried to mug me on Prospect Place between Underhill and Vanderbilt, closer to Underhill. I was walking really fast because I was late and heard them walking behind me. I turned around and the 3 that were behind me looked surprised and immediately slowed down. The 4th guy on the opposite side of the street also slowed down and tried to look as if he was not with the other 3. I kept walking, even faster and turned around again to see them running toward me. There was NO ONE on the street at 7PM. These guys waited and timed it well.
I ran out into the middle of the street, kept walking toward Vanderbilt, grabbed my cell phone and started dialing (my husband, not 911, duh!). After a moments hesitation, they finally spotted a few people walking toward us, pulled their jackets over their heads and all four ran toward Vanderbilt.

I have lived in this neighborhood for 6 years and nothing like this has ever happend. I still can't believe that this occurred at 7 PM. Scary... There are about 5 houses in a row on that corner that did not have their house lights turned on, making that corner very dark. PLEASE turn on your house lights at night. Crime always increases during the holidays. Also, nearly all homeowners on Prospect Place between Underhill and Washington recently received tickets, $65, for not having them on, it is the law.

They were all young, maybe 16-19, skinny and wearing heavy black jackets. One had a black and white pin stripped jacket and was light skinned, short hair. One had his really shinny black jacket pulled over his face and I didn’t get a good look at the other two.
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Comments

  • dakotas way
    dakotas way

    Subject: Almost mugged

    I'm sorry this happened to you. It must have been scary and unnerving.
  • vagabond
    vagabond
    It really was. I am just happy that I was not mugged. I would have been done if I would not have heard their footsteps behind me. Also, when I turned to look at them both times, I really looked hard at their faces, trying to recognize them. I live next to the guys on Prospect Place (Underhill/Washington) who always hang out on their stoop and thus know a lot of the kids in the neighborhood. I didn't recognize any of them but this really seemed to unnerve them.

    I think one of the guys recognized me, the one who immediate covered his face with his jacket. He was the one that indicated to the other 3 to run.
  • fjord
    fjord
    Holy smokes. my gf and i walked right past there at nearly the exact time. we were both carrying bags full of groceries. that corner is indeed dark—i've noted that in the past, so I am *very aware* when i walk thru there at night. it sounds as if you were very aware as well—that must've been scary to see three people running towards you like that! glad you are ok.
  • vagabond
    vagabond
    I am going to write a note about what happened and deliver it to those houses. Everyone wants the neighborhood to be safer so hopefully a little nudge will brighten that corner up a bit.
  • lberghol
    lberghol
    I'm glad you're okay, thats terrifying! I'm often walking home at that time (we must be neighbors!), and I agree that corner is really dark and often empty. I will definately be "more aware" from now on.... :(
  • gs3677
    gs3677
    I also am walking around there often - I live down the street from you in one of the big apt buildings closer to Washington. I agree that it can be really dark on that block. Sometimes I walk up Park Pl instead because often more people keep their lights on, so it feels a little safer.
  • vagabond
    vagabond
    The trees also need to be pruned on that block. Not having an unobstructed view up and down the sidewalk is a bit scary at night and begs trouble. This is also on my to-do list today.
  • king without a crown
    king without a crown
    Good job on the descriptions! Little details such as the Shiny coat and the Pin striped jacket go a long way. Usually these criminals wear the same jackets all the time. If you see them again call 911 with a description of them, they are probably part of the crew thats been Robbing people over there on the West end of the 77 pct.
  • putz
    putz
    you MUST report this to the police. undoubtedly you won't be satisfied with the response, but we can't blame the police for not patrolling more, etc if we dont at least try to inform them of such threats.
  • sirsterling
    sirsterling
    I was walking the dog last Tuesday night around 7:30pm on Vanderbuilt over near BarEtte when I noticed three kids, all in sweatshirts, with there faces covered walking my way. I stopped in front of the bar and let them pass. At that point, I wasn't sure if I was just being paranoid...

    After they passed, I turned around and walked back up Vanderbuilt and made sure that we were about a block behind them when out of no-where an undercover police car pulled directly in front of them as they were crossing St. Marks Place. Within seconds, the police had all three handcuffed...

    Bottom line, be alert & catious at all times...
  • fjord
    fjord
    A scary thing about this thread is that in all of the incidents, the posters mentioned that the potential muggers are kids. yes, nothing new that school-age kids are committing crimes, but the fact that being mugged by teens with nothing else better to do (homework, after-school job, anyone?) is just awful.
  • vagabond
    vagabond
    From what I gather, there is a real sense among teens that the tender years are the best for crime because they are treated as minors when they are caught.You get to learn the tricks of the trade without the more severe penalties that adults face. The guys who sell drugs near my house usually have teens actually delivering the packages...sad.
  • kick rocks!!!!
    kick rocks!!!!
    Our neighbor was mugged on Plaza Street East and St.J's this past Friday at 7pm. They took his Ipod phone after a struggle. He was screaming that he needed help, one person strolled by across the street w/out doing anything, and another person leaned out a window and called the police. It took a while for the police to show up (as usual).

    There was also a mugging on Plaza Street East and Vanderbilt on Halloween (Ipod taken). The discription given in both case I heard were 3 or 4 young African American teens. Sounds like they are having a good time in the neighborhood!

    Why can't we have more people walking the beat in our neighborhood? Why aren't there police in that fake police building on Washington and Prospect that patrol? Seem like they could respond much faster to issues if they weren't coming from way over on Utica!
  • nyla
    nyla
    Wow. I never would've thought a potential mugging could take place near my block at 7pm! That's rush hour!! I moved to PH about a month ago and apparently have been too nonchalant about walking around the neighborhood in the evening. I walk that route every day to and from work. Guess the only thing to do is be aware...but's it definitely good to know what's going on! Glad everything turned out ok. Scary.
  • kick rocks!!!!
    kick rocks!!!!
    The night our neighbor was mugged, all the lights were out on the park side of Plaza Street East. That could be partly why this happened at that hour. Also, he was fidling w/his phone at the time.
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    the three guys that tried to mug my friends on washington ave. last week were also teenagers who were also tall and way skinny. also, early... 8pm!!!
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    oh yeah, you filed a police report - right?
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    wow scary story. i'm glad that youre okay. i wish people would turn the lights on at night.
  • housebroken
    housebroken
    Back in early August I saw 3 kids attempt to mug a guy in front of 225 Sterling and it may have been the same kids. One was across the street and joined in when the other 2 kids that were behind started to puch him. I am still not sure how they didn't see that I was right there. I yelled and immediately pulled my phone to call 911. They ran so I ran after them - probably not the smartest thing to do. In any case, by the time I got back the guy that they punched had left and the police were left without much to do since there was no "victim". Hopefully they will catch them because they didn't seem to care who was around and this was around 7pm.
  • fjord
    fjord
    okay folks...so we all know to be *aware* but what do one do if this actually happens to them? In every incident cited here, the intended victim(s) were alone: Do you just give the muggers what they want? Do you fight back? Do you try to run, if you can? There's no telling if these misguided children have a knife or a gun—and if they're stupid enough to use it.
  • nyla
    nyla
    I say the best bet is to just give them what they want and hopefully they'll be content with $. I doubt that fighting back would be a good option -at least not if you're alone. Chances are slim when it's one against three. I was thinking about all of this walking back from the Q yesterday... I'd love to know what we can do to get police to patrol the neighborhood more frequently...or something.
  • hamilton
    hamilton

    Subject: common sense

    The solution is simple , move to a better neighborhood try Windsor Terrace,Bay Ridge or Bensonhurst.

    Why let it come to your money or your life.
  • fjord
    fjord
    *better neighborhood? Oh man. From what I've seen Prospect Heights is quite time, for the most part.
  • restless native
    restless native
    This petty crime is making a comeback, hardcore. Between this board and word of mouth, I can't believe all the muggings I'm hearing about this year. Seems like the "stick up kids" of the 80's are coming back into style.

    Was talking to an O.G. friend of mine about why all that petty crime e.g. muggings, breaking into cars, robbing bicycles, died out so much in the late 90's, and he said "it just didn't get passed on to this next generation". Well, it looks like it may have just skipped a generation cuz it's back with a vengeance. :shock:
  • hamilton
    hamilton
    Fjord wrote: *better neighborhood? Oh man. From what I've seen Prospect Heights is quite time, for the most part.
    ********************************************************What does from what you seen have to do with people being mugged in your neighborhood?
    The fact that you have to be *aware* is not a good sign.
  • king without a crown
    king without a crown
    It's a very simple explanation, like i've stated before. There are atleast 5000 less Police Officers patrolling the City then in 2001. With that said, the remainder of the Cops are left to pick up the slack, and are also responsible for Anti-terrorism duties, which were a Non-Issue before 9/11.
  • nyla
    nyla
    I was under the impression that PH was a pretty decent neighborhood. I moved from South Park Slope and prefer PH for a number of reasons...until I heard about the recent muggings. Who knows, maybe this type of thing happened in PS too, I just didn't hear about it...
  • fjord
    fjord
    Hamilton wrote—
    "The fact that you have to be *aware* is not a good sign."

    I disagree. you're a fool if you walk around at night anywhere in the city with your head in the clouds.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    I'm a firm believer in what the OP did. don't let yourself get surrounded, be aware of who's around you, if you notice a group coming up behind you or toward you, get on the street side of the sidewalk so you have an escape route, etc. even if you get surrounded, if you don't see any obvious weapons and aren't terrified into stillness (which is perfectly normal and at that point, yes do cooperate with them), thrash around, scream "No!" at the top of your lungs and try to escape.

    Don't do what that actress did a few years ago in the LES and stick around to taunt them - she's dead for it.
  • hamilton
    hamilton
    King without a crown wrote: It's a very simple explanation, like i've stated before. There are atleast 5000 less Police Officers patrolling the City then in 2001. With that said, the remainder of the Cops are left to pick up the slack, and are also responsible for Anti-terrorism duties, which were a Non-Issue before 9/11.
    *****************************************
    It's true there are less cops on the street and I question why when I go to : Targets there are at least 5 NYPD at the entance and exits.
    The Main Library I've seen from 7 to 11 NYPD at all times [High Crime Area?]
    7th ave Street fair at least 150 Nypd.
    Watching a Yankee game on tv a cop sitting in the Yankee bench
    [ someone going to steal a base?]

    These are the things I've noticed ,how many other situations are there where cops are being used [and citizens denied protection]for private industy?

    If you want better protection call your Pct. and set up a community meeting with the Captain and demand a resolution to your problems..
    Have him set up a follow up meeting and let you know what if and if any thing has been done
    GOOD LUCK
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