Enough With the Marauding Teenagers!
A couple of months ago as we were walking East on Greene Avenue between Waverly and Washington we noticed in our peripheral vision someone approaching fast from behind. When we spun around, it was a teenage boy, probably about 15 years old, who had crept up and was hovering inches from the back of our…
A couple of months ago as we were walking East on Greene Avenue between Waverly and Washington we noticed in our peripheral vision someone approaching fast from behind. When we spun around, it was a teenage boy, probably about 15 years old, who had crept up and was hovering inches from the back of our head mocking us provocatively to the clear delight of his jeering friends. Ever risk-averse, we quickly walked out into the middle of the street and starting dialing on our cell phone. With a few shouts, the pack continued down the block. We jogged back to a police car we had noticed parked back on Vanderbilt, told the cops what had happened and went home. The next day we heard that a woman had been mugged half an hour later a few blocks from there by a bunch of teenagers. We’ve heard of several similar instances in the area in recent weeks. And it’s not just Clinton Hill. A post on Brooklynian describes how a trio of teenage girls (19, 17 and 12) mugged five different people in Prospect Heights on Saturday night (and how only one of them decided to press charges) and an email we received yesterday told of a violent mugging of a twenty-something male by a group of boys at around 8:15 Monday night at Dekalb and South Oxford Street in Fort Greene (above). What can the community do to combat this activity? Obviously greater police presence would help, but given the paltry resources the NYPD devotes to this part of town, it’s going to take a lot of vigilance on the part of residents in terms of reporting even small incidents of harassment and pressing charges. And everyone should be aware that a lot of these muggings are happening during daylight hours, often between the end of school and dinner time, so it’s a good idea to minimize iPod and cell phone usage during those times. Please use this comment thread to document other similar incidents that you know about in recent months as well as to suggest ways to address the problem.
heard of another ft. greene jumping. this took place on monday afternoon(6.23) on the corner of lafayette & s.oxford.
was walking dog last night when neighbor advised that I only take dog to curb then return indoors (it was around 9:45)because he had seen a woman my size (around 5’1″) be jumped by teenage boys. Fortunately passersby protected this woman but this obviously is a trend that isn’t going to stop until autumn.
This neighbor now stands outside as a sort of informal neighborhood watch – he’s lived in the neighborhood his entire life and said he didn’t stand for this sort of mischief.
Hey 9:57 the keyword in your post was Bushwick, stay out of these neighborhoods that have been attempted to be gentrified, dont you get it yet? This will not stop, you cannot move into these neighborhoods and expect not to be seen as targets. 3:44 your community centers cost money, money that the city does not have which is why all community centers run by housing projects are being closed this summer, so you are just out of luck, any other wonderful ideas? The parents dont care if their kids get picked up, the reason why half of them are out is because the parents were just like them at somepoint but eventually had kids and had to stay home, its learned behavior, they either learn it at home or at school or on the street…
Call the cops on these kids when you see them harassing someone. I never had any money growing up, and my pocket money from my parents was 3 dollars a week til I was 18 (mind you I was born in 1980) but my parents would never let me go around roughing people up for money or toys. What these kids’ stories are we can only guess. But maybe something will change when their parent/s pick them up at the police station. They could also be enlisted into some community service once they are arrested. Ultimately, these kids need something to do and something to look forward to. Its tough when no one cares for you.
Brownstoner, how about starting an internship program. Next time one of them comes up to you, you say “Hey, you want a job?” and throw a wad of cash at them.
A must watch for everyone reading this: HBO Special on last night – about Douglas High School in Baltimore – very analogous to Brooklyn –
It was truly frightening how these kids behaved (and that was with a camera crew in front of them!).
All I can say is that this subculture of low income black americans is completely screwed up in ways beyond comprehension to any other group of Americans.
I do not believe it is racist to point out this problem – To do nothing about it is worse.
My boyfriend yesterday, was jumped by what he described as 4 12 year olds, about 3 in the afternoon on his way to a Bushwick grocery store. There were lots of people outside and as the kids punched and jumped on his back putting him in a chokehold, several passerbys started to approach the group and an adult Black male leaving the grocery store saw one of the kids running and took off after him. My boyfriend is by no means a waif and shook them off, prompting their retreat along with the interveners. It just goes to show you that these kids are affecting everyone, not just “white skinny hipsters” or wealthier brownstoners. The black man that exited the grocery store in pursuit of one of the kids told my boyfriend and the cop that they were talking to that he has been jumped by teenagers as well, which the majority of the time are black.
I have a feeling that much of the time the parents put their kids up to this shit because they aren’t as suspecting and if they get caught, the consequences aren’t as bad.
What do you people expect? When you gentrify a neighborhood you cant expect to be welcomed with open arms, nor should you! Get ready for a hot summer with community centers being closed all around the 5 boroughs, Cops not being paid enough to listen to all of the complaints you yuppies will file, get used to it, it is going to get worse. Please leave before you catch more beatings…
This thread is too funny. I just have to throw in my pre-teen encounter.
Moved near the Pratt Institute in 2000. As I was walking from the Classon G train I saw three 10-12 year olds from the Lafayette Gardens (PJ’s) throwing small rocks at me from across the street. I ignored them until one of them hit me! From like 20 yards away! That kid was talented. At that point I ran full sprint at them with murder in my eyes. Like a scene out of a cartoon they fled in three different directions. Only one problem for them. They forgot to take their bikes & razor scooters.
As they only ran far enough away that I would not catch them they got to see me mount one bike, lift the razor and other bike up on my shoulder and ride off. They tried to follow but as they had no bikes they soon tired out running. I still smile a the thought of a big lanky white guy riding this shorty ass bike and the little black girl who saw the whole thing from the playground say “ya mister, you show em!”
I am so sorry to hear that about you 4:15…really upsets me.
I want all the black people who read this to realize that we all know without even a second thought that black American teenagers did this .
In fact all of the so called “teenagers” above are black.
Think about that. Think about how F’ed up that is that some how it is socially acceptable to walk up to strangers and beat them for their stuff.
Truly outrageous and it condemns you all in my eyes – because you make excuses for it. and this is the result. I am angry
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 4:41 PM
It doesn’t condemn everyone, but yes, face it, these are racially biased crimes perpetrated by black teenagers targeting white people. If the races were reversed this would be considered a hate crime. Stop blaming the victims.
Hi Ya Asshat, yeah you
Hud dot son June 20, 2008 4:41 PM.
Let’s see. You are a skinny punks assed asshat that moved into the Ghetto, right? Plus just because of your features you are supposed to be “Left Alone”, right? Plus you are sleepwalking in the Hood, right? Not paying attention your surroundings, right?
Let me tell you this homeboy, you don’t belong in this neighborhood if you are not paying attention. Thing can happen in a second and you “moving” in the hood puts you at great risk! Here read this and see why I’m so hard on Asshats that try to Gentrify the ghetto…. Dumbasses!
The What (Was it one punch or two? LMMFAO)
Someday this war is gonna end…