Gothamist: iPod Robbery in Central Park

Ryan

Sun, 24 Apr 2005 15:37:13 -0500

Rico, grow a brain. An iPod isn't worth getting stabbed over.

Ryan

Sun, 24 Apr 2005 15:31:57 -0500

I was jumped and had my iPod stolen by 5 or 6 teens last night around 122nd. Wonder if any of them were the same kids. My story: http://followyourfish.livejournal.com/242188.html

Jen

Sat, 23 Apr 2005 23:30:48 -0500

Wow, Ben - I'm also glad that you're all right. It struck me as being a crazy event, because lots of people run in the park at night.

John

Sat, 23 Apr 2005 11:47:07 -0500

HR, You're a fucktard. Ben, Glad you weren't harmed more than you were. And good attitude about it all as well.

longboard dude

Sat, 23 Apr 2005 00:04:26 -0500

The parents are to blame. It all comes down to family values. How many times have I heard my kid is a good kid.... :(

Ben

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 17:46:31 -0500

Yes, I'm very fortunate that there were some bystanders around that came to my aid to scare off these kids. I'm also grateful that one of the bystanders was vigilant enough to chase one of the kids who was later arrested by the police. Let me also say that my experience with the Central Park Police was good, they seem to be doing their hardest to keeping the park safe and apprehending the other attackers. I dont think I could have been any more cautious than I already was, those kids were so young and I didn't expect they would actually jump me. All I can say is that I'm going to think twice and assess other routes next time a group of kids that large is near me

Dave H.

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 17:10:10 -0500

Ben, sorry to hear this happened to you and glad to hear you weren't hurt too badly. Although you were obviously outnumbered, I wonder what the legal situation would be if you were to fight back and start kicking a 12-year-old kid's ass. If you're cycling in the park and some kid throw's a rock at you, are you allowed to ride over and bitch slap him? How about an atomic wedgie?

bob denver

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 16:58:14 -0500

I'm not a pod person, but it seems like a good solution would be to just get headphones with black wires instead of the white ones. I hope ben gets some justice and his pod back.

Rico Starr

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 16:07:45 -0500

I use my ipod there all the time. This dude is a pussy.

toyochin

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 15:50:43 -0500

someone needs to make ipod covers that look like crappy, no-name cd walkmans Would this do?

ben

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 15:25:40 -0500

yes, I have been jogging the around CP for a while - sometimes even til 10pm. Running to the 102 cutoff seems like a good idea, it's something I used to do. Let me reiterate this one more time, even though my ipod was stolen, it wasn't obvious I had one at the time, I'm pretty discreet with it, I think they only realized I had one when they got up close. There were a lot of people there which is why the attack was so short...a lot of the bystanders came to my aid. Although I'm a little shaken, I'm hoping this doesn't faze me from my normal routine of running there, but again, I'm reconsidering taking the 102 St. cutoff

honey

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 14:50:40 -0500

someone needs to make ipod covers that look like crappy, no-name cd walkmans--just slip your ipod in, use dark headphones, and noone will be the wiser--sure you will have to carry around a clunky, unhp fake walkman, but you ipod will be safe and so will you.

Richie Boy

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 14:43:49 -0500

I have to tell you that 8 p.m. is not that late, especially when it’s warm out. There seems to be a fair amount of people still exercising at that time. I have never had trouble (besides the over aggressive dog or two) running in Central Park even at 9 or 10 p.m., although the furthest north I will run after dark is to the 102 street cutoff, which also has a police booth in the middle of it. Yes, I ran with an iPod. Sure, you have to keep your wits about you and not worry about looking foolish for taking a long route around suspicious characters, but how can you blame a guy for using the park at a reasonable hour when there are usually many other people around? It just seems like bad luck.

ben

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:56:36 -0500

it sucked (I'm the victim in the story by the way)...but i don't think they originally attacked me for my Ipod, I think they were just there to cause trouble, apparently I was told by the police that kids up in that corner of CP like to harrass passing cyclists by throwing rocks at them. Luckily, all they got away with was my ipod and left me with a black eye. The police has been doing a good job with this and might have already caught one of the kids with the aid of a witness who chased one of them down after assaulting me.

Cecilia

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:55:35 -0500

A friend of friend was on the subway listening to his Ipod and two guys sat next to him and then one of them hit him in the back of the head and tried to grab his Ipod. They failed in their attempt.

dhex

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:43:03 -0500

an armed new york would be a far more interesting new york, wouldn't it?

HR

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:42:34 -0500

Said it once, I'll say it again. You're walking through Central Park at night, especially around 108th Street and you get robbed, raped, killed ... it's YOUR fault. Personal responsibility people, look into it.