Gothamist: Assaults, Muggings On the Rise West Village

MrManhattan

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:38:45 -0500

"What a ridiculous thing to say. The economy isn't tanking because of the decisions of financial analysts at the bottom of the totem pole!" I'm sure they were just following orders. Really, its too bad that the West Village has gone so far downhill since I lived there. Back then the West Village meant leather and denim and chains. And that was just the straight people!

melp

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:04:04 -0500

You guys are unbelievable. Why don't you blame the victims some more? Some guy is preying on women (and children) and you all get hung up on the fact that one of the victims is described as a "banker". So if someone is a jerk, they deserve to be robbed. Perhaps if gawker reduced the snarky comments like, "clutching their pearls in terror" readers wouldn't have knee jerk responses to inflammatory rhetoric. Here's an email from Christine Quinn about this. So glad all you big strong guys feel so confident that people with guns won't hurt you. From: "Speaker Christine C. Quinn" Date: December 12, 2008 10:15:08 AM EST To: Subject: Safety Tips and Update on Recent Muggings December 11, 2008 Dear Neighbor, It is with regret that I write to inform you of six violent muggings that have occurred in the West Village from November 15th to December 4th. This past Monday, the 6th Precinct formally declared these muggings to be a pattern and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has escalated its response accordingly. All of the incidents occurred between 11:00PM and 2:45AM, and the majority of the victims were white women. Every time, the victim was approached from behind by two males, hit and then mugged. The attacks occurred on: Waverly and Bank, 11th Street and 7th Avenue, 350 West 14th Street, 30 Christopher Street, 231 West 11th Street, West 4th Street and 8th Avenue. The 6th Precinct's Anti-Crime Unit, in conjunction with the NYPD City Wide Robbery Squad have been assigned to the area and will be increasing police presence throughout the West Village. On December 17th, the 6th Precinct will host its monthly Community Council meeting in the basement of Our Lady of Pompeii Church, located at 25 Carmine Street, at 7:30 PM. Representatives from our office will be in attendance and we encourage you to attend as well. Please take care to keep yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors safe. Following are a couple important safety tips as recommended by the NYPD to remember when walking outside at night: Keep your keys separate from your purse. If your bag is stolen the thief will not have access to your home. Never carry a wallet in a rear pocket, use a front trouser or an inside coat pocket. When walking with a purse keep it over your shoulder on a short strap with the flap facing your body. Minimize the amount of money, credit cards and valuables you carry by only taking items that are necessary for the day. Divide money between your purse/wallet and pockets. Be alert when approached by a stranger asking for directions or the time of day. Thieves often use this approach when sizing up their victims. When going out in the evening try to walk with a friend; remember there is power in numbers. Remain alert; individuals on cell phones or wearing head phones are more susceptible to attack as they may appear distracted. It is also critical that as a community we look out for one another. Should you hear sounds of a struggle from the street while you are at home, please call 911 to report it. If you have any questions or concerns regarding safety issues in the West Village, please contact Grey Elam in my District Office at 212-564-7757, ext. 105. Sincerely, Christine C. Quinn Speaker

theLtrain

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:40:58 -0500

Here's to hoping the banker gets robbed again, not because she's a banker but simply because she's an idiot.

JacqueMehoff

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:25:39 -0500

you ain't kidding tingo, notice they never tell you their salary. you know what a teacher earns. that's why I assume almost everyone makes more than me, well, when I was working. and I was right when they IT made the mistake of unblocking the salary box on a database.

tingo

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:13:58 -0500

"What a ridiculous thing to say. The economy isn't tanking because of the decisions of financial analysts at the bottom of the totem pole!" Yeah it is. They're all cut from the same cloth. And nobody's rationalizing the crime, which itself is f'd up. I just question the insanity that a 25 year old can earn so much to afford even live in the village - just entry level to people pushing around money that doesn't even exist and has led us close to a depression. I know some damn good teachers that deserve to live in a brownstone before they do.

chris lee

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:57:50 -0500

What also is WRONG with being successful? What an inverted morality! What a resigned rationalization to the entrenchedness of the NYC criminal element.

JonMan

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:42:32 -0500

"clutching their pearls in terror"? What an unfeeling and ignorant comment. First of all, even if all the people who lived in the Village were wealthy -- and they aren't (ever heard of rent stabilization?) -- there are many, many visitors; the Village is (and has been for decades) a destination for visitors from all over the city (and the world), of all incomes and backgrounds.

newsyspice

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:29:20 -0500

ANYwhere you live, you got to be careful. Never gab on a cell fone at night. Never have those ipod headphones on. Be alert. Acknowledge everyone you pass. A mugger or any other attacker is looking for an easy hit -- someone is isn't paying attention. A lot of the problem is that women don't want to be confrontational. If someone is walking too close behind me, I'll stop, turn around, look at them, say howdy, and continue walking once they've passed by. Again, I'm not an easy target. And use common sense. If it doesn't feel right, get yourself out of that situation. I've taken a couple of personal safety courses from cops. And I've done pretty well -- knock wood.

Gwinny

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:03:28 -0500

So to change the subject, who wants to guess what this young '25 year old banker' makes in salary to be able to eat at the spotted pig and live in the village? While our economy tanks thanks to them. What a ridiculous thing to say. The economy isn't tanking because of the decisions of financial analysts at the bottom of the totem pole!

Wza

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:51:34 -0500

West Village. It aint Kansas.

chris lee

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:51:22 -0500

i'm for registered gun owner vigilanties going on paid safaris. You dress like a victim and walk thru the projects. you know in a suit and tie, rolex..the whole bit. we pay you $100 for every perp you bag that tries to attack you.

everyAframe

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:47:45 -0500

Bring it fuckers, I live on Perry between West 4th and Bleecker, and I've got the papers for the heat hanging from my left shoulder, bitch.

TK

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:44:39 -0500

Rockets - are you suggesting that I would perceive the situation (and the quote, moreso) differently if, say, the 25-year-old banker were my son or boyfriend?

babyhitler

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:34:42 -0500

#19 - exactly. Do people not have eyes anymore? you won't get mauled by a tiger if you don't cross a tiger's path. If you see some shifty looking hoodlums walking with a shifty swagger at the end of the street. Move! get out the way. I'm a big guy so if I see one hoodlum I can take I stay on the street but if it's two or more and they look like trouble then I just casually move to the next street. Hoodlums like the element of surprise, if they see you have a heads up on them then they usually abort the mission.

JacqueMehoff

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:20:01 -0500

it was raining pretty, pretty hard last night and this guy was out there. that's determination or the element of surprise. Is there a NYPD stat on what time, weather or day when muggins occur? my sister was mugged by two guys who stopped short and turn around, put a gun to her BF's head and demanded money. lesson learned? don't take dark side streets.

Gentrifier

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:17:55 -0500

This is a result of Times Square's mallification. All the trash, the scumbags used to hang out at Times Square and start shit there. Now, they hang out in the Village.

drewo

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:00:11 -0500

NYPD should put more beat cops on the streets (i.e. -- out of their cars) as well as assign more bicycle cops.

fishfryin

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:58:12 -0500

Thespis- how do muggings make you wish for gun carrying? The point of a mugging is generally that you are caught by surprise; even if you see the attacker approach and feel weird about it, they continue as normal until they get right next to you and grab you. Do you want average citizens pulling guns on the street cause they don't like the look of someone coming down the sidewalk? Good Lord

thefacts

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:57:54 -0500

# 21 Nice reference to "Taxi Driver". Listen to Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver reading that line. LOL: "Someday a real rain will come and wash this scum from the street." http://gawker.com/news/clips/shelly-silver-i-got-some-bad-ideas-in-my-head-203978.php

Brooklynbobby

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:39:13 -0500

Beware, the boogie brigade!!!

JacqueMehoff

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:34:23 -0500

hey, when the world is your oyster, who cares right? they got better things to worry about. too bad the rain didn't wash away all the filth last night.

robingee

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:31:32 -0500

Hey, Carrie got mugged once on SaTC, for her shoes! It can happen to anyone!

Brado

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:29:06 -0500

Whenever I see a black man approaching, I cross the street.

tingo

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:25:59 -0500

Used to be that ny'rs prided themselves on being street smart. Not so much anymore with all these giddy transplants who think every night is a sex in the city episode. I guess common sense isn't written into some people's scripts. So to change the subject, who wants to guess what this young '25 year old banker' makes in salary to be able to eat at the spotted pig and live in the village? While our economy tanks thanks to them.

JacqueMehoff

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:24:32 -0500

in other words, this is called a common occurrence in any large metropolitan city. OT, there was a forum on gun control and the heller decision last night given by the brady bunch.

Johnny Rockets

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:24:14 -0500

TK, you're an idiot, if that 25 yo banker had been your sister or girlfriend you wouldn't be saying the same. Fucking moron.

Billiamsburg

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:24:07 -0500

i wonder if we're paying to house them in some, like, ugly brown building complexes or somethin'. If so maybe we should 'smoke em out' by removing those things.

virgil

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:23:43 -0500

You get very excited about perp descriptions, Snoop; you must be a very visual person. Are you an artist?

Snoopy

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:55:19 -0500

Right Tar Baby, a description of the perps please to see if the muggings follows a pattern. There are a lot of Asians that work in restaurants around that area. Just wondering given the decrease in restaurant business.

Tar_Baby

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:46:57 -0500

Have these thugs been caught? If not, do we have a description of them at least so we know who to look out for?

spnder

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:45:48 -0500

Wow. Sounds like the first woman was pretty alert. I guess she could have had her hand on the mace as they approached- but even so... sometimes there's not much you can do apart from turning around and walking down another street. And who's going to do that?

Thespis

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:43:56 -0500

I don't mean to start anything on a rainy Friday...but this strikes me as an argument for safe, registered gun ownership. I know there are significant downsides to that, and good reasons to outlaw gun ownership in a big city like New York. But when I hear a story like this I always think "man, I wish she had been carrying."

whitecastlerock

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:40:06 -0500

#8–Precisely. Just because an area is expensive doesn't mean hoodlums won't come looking to rob you. They know there is money to be had. Stay alert folks. Around the holidays everyone is distracted with shit they need to do and muggers know this. Keep your guard up.

Steven

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:36:30 -0500

There is no safe place anywhere in New York City. People need to learn to have their eyes and ears open at all times no matter how safe the neighborhood might be.

Outter Burrougher

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:36:00 -0500

i think what they are saying, Rob, is that these crimes aren't directly related (either to each other or to anything larger). If crime is down on the whole for the year in that precinct, this might just be a statistical anomaly or normal variation. My point is, I guess, be careful no matter when and where you are, but let's give this more than 28 days before we assume this is a trend.

TK

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:34:40 -0500

I'm all for mugging 25-year-old bankers that say stupid shit like "Anyone who lives in the West Village knows that you walk everywhere. We walk at all hours." Maybe even a good punch in the grill for good measure.

Rob T Firefly

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:30:44 -0500

but the NYPD insists the "crime cluster" isn't part of a pattern. Except that, y'know, that's what "pattern" means.

r1b2

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:29:09 -0500

Sure, could be the PATH station. Or it could be time to consider moving some of the housing projects outside of the City.

edEx

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:22:11 -0500

there's a path station in the area... i wonder where all this riff raff is coming from?

Jen Chung

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:21:44 -0500

Just because it's 11PM in a "safer" neighborhood doesn't mean it's 100% safe. It's dark! People are distracted by their cellphones and iPods! Hell, people are getting mugged during the day, too.

sinisterteashop

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:19:01 -0500

I'd take the second mugger if I had a choice.