Have you ever been mugged?

[Shaul]

I will be taking a trip to Guyana in November. It is a beautiful country and I am looking forward to it. However there is one issue. Mugging, armed robbery and homicide are a major problem in the capital, Georgetown. So much so that the U.S. State Department warns people not to visit there. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/guyana-travel-advisory.html Naturally I will be taking extra precautions and I am familiar with the country and its issues.

Have you, or someone you know, ever been attacked? What precautions do you take against mugging and attacks?

 

[ChristineM]

My father was mugged for 79p in change (about $1) he was left in critical condition in a coma and with a fractured skull. His coma lasted for just over 1 month during which time he died 3 times. Big big thanks to the hospital staff who brought him back.
He was mugged in a busy supermarket car park in a quite up market area of town.

Ive been attacked (but not mugged). Determined it won't happen again i learned some krav maga, I'm confident i can defend my self agains anyone but the most determined armed assailant.

I don't carry cash or valuables (other than phone, house/car keys and debit cards with strictly limited funds in each account. I try to avoid getting to close to dodgy looking individuals.

Don't look too conspicuous, where possible dress as the locals dress to save attracting attention.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yes. I have had a home invasion from random neighborhood thugs involving weapons.

I've had someone sneak in and try to sexually assault me.

My sister was mugged while walking. The guy gave her the option of just handing the money over, or getting stabbed.

I had a friend in my younger years get jumped while coming home on bike from his girlfriend's house.

My advice would be to stay aware. Don't let yourself get isolated, especially in a dark area. If someone says or does something that seems odd or unclear(mumbled), don't investigate. Go the other way. Its possibly a trap. At the risk of seeming rude, ignore a stranger if you're in a bad area. Don't let anyone into your personal space(hotel room, or place you'll be staying). Educate yourself on the crime rates of the areas you'll be staying in, and act accordingly.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I will be taking a trip to Guyana in November. It is a beautiful country and I am looking forward to it. However there is one issue. Mugging, armed robbery and homicide are a major problem in the capital, Georgetown. So much so that the U.S. State Department warns people not to visit there. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/guyana-travel-advisory.html Naturally I will be taking extra precautions and I am familiar with the country and its issues.

Have you, or someone you know, ever been attacked? What precautions do you take against mugging and attacks?

I haven't been mugged (have had my home robbed whilst living overseas, and had a home invasion in Australia).

I lived in a very high crime area (PNG) though.

Some basics...
Find locals you can trust, and believe them when they discuss safety, etc.
Be aware of how you're getting home at all times, don't suddenly realise you're walking home at night.
Try to proactively avoid 'dodgy' situations.
Carry two wallets. A throwaway with enough cash to be credible, and your real one, with cards, etc.

(On that last, I used to carry a cancelled credit card, but that won't be great if you are forced to go to an ATM, so maybe a withdrawal limit is better)

 

[Starise]

Well maybe this doesn't count. I went to a pretty rough grade school. There were a few larger bullys who would come by, jab you in the midsection taking all of the air away, and then demand money.I wasn't a small kid, just average, but these guys were bigger and picked on everyone.

Another time when I was much older I was out in a van like 3am due to my job then. I was in a large rather rough area of a city and had changed lanes. At the next stop this guy walks up and claims I rubbed his car. Me being the big dummy I was at the time, I got out and walked to the rear of my vehicle. He begins to get into a whoop *** state of mind, so I calmly walked to my vehicle and drove off. He them followed me until I stop a ploce officer I seen.

 

[McBell]

Long long ago, back last century when I was a teen (19) I worked the night owl at a gas station and got robbed at gun point.

 

[Colt]

I will be taking a trip to Guyana in November. It is a beautiful country and I am looking forward to it. However there is one issue. Mugging, armed robbery and homicide are a major problem in the capital, Georgetown. So much so that the U.S. State Department warns people not to visit there. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/guyana-travel-advisory.html Naturally I will be taking extra precautions and I am familiar with the country and its issues.

Have you, or someone you know, ever been attacked? What precautions do you take against mugging and attacks?

Yes! When I was 16 I worked 5-9 at a gas station. One night 2 guys came in and robed me. They pretended that they needed a fan belt, i went back in the shop and they tackled me, tied my hands behind my back, had a gun to the back of my head, stole my wallet and the money from the cash drawer.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Have you, or someone you know, ever been attacked? What precautions do you take against mugging and attacks?

Yes. I got out late at a grocery store and got jumped by the beastie boys or some lookalikes. That was back in the 90's

My advice is if you think your assailant is on crack don't insult them. Keep your distance from groups. Don't be alone at night in town.

 

[Stonetree]

I knew a member of the police granny squad. The granny squad was sent out to locations where mugging was prevalent. My conversation was with the officer who dressed as an old woman and was the decoy for his squad. What was so bothering about what he told me was the muggers were never satisfied taking valuables. They always would beat the victims. This was in an American East Coast city.

 

[The Hammer]

Once in Japan, I was out in the club district and got swindled into a scam involving exorbitant bar tab prices (things not purchased, higher then listed process etc). When I told them I couldn't, and wouldn't pay their over priced fees. I was dragged to two separate ATMs and forced to pull cash out at knifepoint. Then held until 330am in the back room until the realized I was a military member, and they let me go.

 

[PureX]

I will be taking a trip to Guyana in November. It is a beautiful country and I am looking forward to it. However there is one issue. Mugging, armed robbery and homicide are a major problem in the capital, Georgetown. So much so that the U.S. State Department warns people not to visit there. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/guyana-travel-advisory.html Naturally I will be taking extra precautions and I am familiar with the country and its issues.

Have you, or someone you know, ever been attacked? What precautions do you take against mugging and attacks?

Yes, I experienced an attempted mugging once when I lived in Chicago. I was very lucky. We struggled on a slippery sidewalk and the mugger slipped and fell. He had a gun but it had no clip in it. I knew this because he hit me on the head with the handle butt and I could feel that it was hollow. So when he fell I ran.

I was a bit drunk at the time, and had run out of cigarettes. It was late. I should have just gone to bed. I was inviting trouble walking around that neighborhood late at night. That was the lesson learned ... don't be stupid. Don't tempt fate.

 

[John53]

I was walking down the stairs from the lunch room at work as 3 blokes ran up the stairs to rob the pay roll. One pointed a shotgun at me and told me to get on the fn ground. I had an arm full of burgers, sandwiches and chips for the others in the office and thought it was some kind of joke so kept walking. It wasn't until a few minutes later when someone ran into the office and said to call an ambulance and the cops that I realised what happened. I didn't see it but they pistol whipped a security guard and took the money. It was back in the 80s. My lunch was safe.