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.
Pay attention. You are not in wonderland, people. How the hell does it happen that a group of teenagers can sneak up on you? Mr. B admits he wasnt paying attention. the 2nd 946am and 954am have it right. Even if you dont think you can be mugged, you might be run over by a deliveryguy, bitten by a dog, step in dog shit, fall down open basement doors, etc. I’ve lived in Brooklyn over 17 years and never been mugged. Maybe I’ve been lucky. I prefer to think its because I pay attention, and I dont look scared. Those are the two biggest targets, the oblivious and the scared.
Its not blaming the victim. Its being realistic. Until the causes of teen violence are identified and remedied, you have to figure out how to minimize the chances of you being attacked. Take heed.
I can’t help but think that the other post about folks moving in and other folks moving out isn’t somehow connected to the uptick in this type of behavior. Bringing the Upper East Side and all it’s trappings can cause resentments that manifest themselves in this type of behavior.
What’s the solution? Keep your head up and when someone approaches you in a threatening manner, stop, face them, and scream your head off at them.
Physical violence may sound like a satisfying response but as my grandfather used to say, “Never fight with a pig, you’ll both get dirty and he’ll like it.” Even if you are successful in beating the tar out of your assailant, you’ll either end up defending yourself against the crowd of kids from across the street and/or defending yourself to the community starting with the phrase, “So I beat up the kid”.
“Interesting. Two of my friends and I were assaulted on Saturday night in Crown Heights by about five teenage girls. We were near Franklin Park bar at the corner of St. John’s Place and Franklin Ave. (some would call this Prospect Heights, but whatever).”
OH OH OH! Remember when Brownstoner had this Bar on here and I told you this was the hood. Some of you Asshats laughed at me, remember that! What make that bar so scary is you cant see while you are in the bar. Once you come out and walk down St. Johns, you are in trouble.
The What
Someday this war is gonna end….
I wonder about those comps..
lots of these types of issues in dumbo these days. parents of these kids should be held accountable too.
I have been living in BK for 10 years and moved here to attend Pratt when Clinton Hill was still bad. I have heard so many of these stories but always from people who would expect to get robbed who don’t pay attention while out on the streets.
A couple of times it happened where kids would try and rob my friends and I. We laughed at them and kept going. Most of these are just trying to act tough and don’t really know what to do.
It is just funny to read about all these different incidents because I remember at Pratt, most students were targets, because they were from small town America or the burbs. But all the kids from NYC and other cities who had some street sense never had any problems.
As -9:54 said it is amazing how little street sense most people have and those the ones who normally get harassed.
I’m so glad that the majority of posters here are prepared to fight back against groups of teens. Teens are the most dangerous idiots on the streets — they have no sense of mortality or consequences and just enough physical strength to cause serious injury. In fact I seem to remember some of the most vicious attacks in NYC coming from teens. But good luck to our blogging Brooklyn Rambos. Make sure your health insurance is in order.
9:57 has it right. Speak up or get someone to do it for you. If everyone on here as an adult is afraid to speak to or confront a teenager you’re going to get picked on.
And that is why many people are leaving Brooklyn. Why subject yourself, your spouse, and kids to such risks? Why not move somewhere (with equal access to Manhattan) where it doesn’t cost $1.5-2 million to buy a house that needs a full renovation; where you can walk around while actually listening to an Ipod; etc. What is so great about B’lyn again?
“I seem to remember Bernard Getz had a pretty good solution.”
Boy O Boy! You Asshats better stop talking like that or you are going to get a hollow point in your face. The youngins would love to get a notch on their belt buy shooting a Asshat.
“Get yourself a can of mace and when you turn around confront the bastard and mace his/her ass. They will be screaming and crying like little punks that they can not see and in pain.”
Let me introduce you to the Carpet Knife and Box Cutter. These are standard weapons for street warfare. Every kid carries one and they will use them with bad consequences.
“i agree – if any marauding teen confronts me, they are going down. i will not be held accountable for how many blows they receive, how many bruises they receive, how many teeth are knocked out – i for one give myself full liberty to wail if any of these hoodlums get’s in my face!”
Lets talk about states. Humans are in different state all the time, like being calm. scared, happy, etc. When you are talking about confronting a group a Teenagers on a Blog you state is “Cool” but faced with that situation and your thinking changes.
You Asshats kill me. You move into a Neighborhood that is 85% Black, then you complaint people are “Bothering” you! You buy overpriced property around these areas and complain about you conditions. You really don’t get do you? Very sad…..
“Hey Brownie-
The problem is you look like a victim. I agree with the above, put down the cell phone and learn how to throw a jab to the nose. One good jab and that mofo will be crying for his babby mama.”
Brownstoner I would NEVER give anyone advice like this. You just had a bad day and I think your “Karma” is catching up with you. Promoting this Blogs is Covert Race/Class warfare. If you want to engage in this type of behavior, you have to suffer the consequences.
The What (Duck!)
Someday this war is gonna end…
BTW 200 posts coming you way. This is a hot topic.