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.
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). They approached us from behind and beat us with fists and umbrellas. However, they did not attempt to rob us. Maybe b/c there were 3 of us, one of whom was a guy? Who knows? A neighbor who witnessed the attack called the police; we left our names/numbers with her to pass on should the cops respond. Either they didn’t, or they had no interest in taking statements from us.
If it’s a bunch of kids, it would be INSANE to fight back unless you’re a closet Bernie Goetz. You punch one, the rest jump you and kick your face in. They’re teenagers, remember? Same brain chemicals as the clinically insane.
In the swanky neighborhoods of Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Lima, etc, rich folks who live in the million-dollar mansions usually do not show themselves too often on the street. They know the income disparity between themselves and the city’s poor. Americans, clueless about socio/economic issues, delude themselves into thinking that this is an egalitarian city where everyone has the same shot at success and wealth. Actually, we are heading more towards the Latin American model and this type of class-directed violence is likely to increase. Wherever extreme wealth rubs shoulders with extreme poverty, you should expect class-related crime. Brooklyn’s wealthy young elite should get a clue.
9:59
There sure can, but I’m a better shot.
; )
All you idiots who give the “fight back” advice fail to consider the possibility that these teens could, at times, have a weapon. You never know.
last year this happened to me with a teenager on my bike. It was about 6:15 and I was walking home from the Atlantic Avenue stop. Broad daylight. Plenty of cars leaving the Atlantic Center
The kid started taunting me and making VERY inappropriate comments and than tried to take my bag. I pulled my bag back from him and he than started to circle me as I continued to walk home.
I went into the Barber shop that is on the way and asked if I could stay in there for a little until the kid left.
The guys in the barber shop asked what happened and went outside yelled at the kid and than closed up and walked me home to my Apt on Greene/Carlton.
Its part of the reason I love Ft Greene. Its not about who you are, what you look like it is such a nice community.
I also went down to the precient – I knew this kid would probably do this to other people. They followed up with me twice and were very responsive.
Not for nothing but it does amaze me how often I see young adults (and females more than males) so engrossed on cell phones or fumbling with their ipods or whatever and so seemingly unaware of surroundings with items of value (and status) so visible. Or using ATM’s late at night where anyone can see them. Then when you get real close or pass them – they jump ’cause they are startled.
Are they so un-street savvy to not realize how vulnerable a target they are?
You always , as 2nd nature, keep scanning who else is on street and how close they are to you.
Just read neighborhood papers police blotter – and you see muggings are almost always cellphone/ipods.
(and I am in Carroll Gardens/BoerumH/CobbleHill area).
9:53 – you are a complete idiot and bring nothing to this thread.
WHAAAAA! Brooklyn didn’t get the genetrification memo.