Robbery, up close and personal

[Jaron]

I've never been mugged, nor even come into a situation that I thought I was being targeted for a mugging.

I suspect, in DG's position, I might've tried to run away rather than provoke anything further.

I'm surprised you wouldn't use one of the eight concealed weapons you keep on your person at all times. Or at the least made a dash for the assault rifle you keep in the trunk...

[Neil]

Who the hell is stupid enough to mug you for $60?

Dammit - the stupidity of criminals never ceases to amaze me.

$60 allows him to score drugs (non-whites are all addicted to drugs), and he'll get a lot less of a fight asking for a small amount of money than he would asking people to clear out their savings accounts.

[DGuller]

He did ask me to withdraw $100 originally.  I was still in a state of confused stubborness, and said it was too much and tried walking away from the ATM.  He pinned me again, but went down to $60. 

[Caliga]

uh..... so why didn't you say $60 was too much?

[DGuller]

uh..... so why didn't you say $60 was too much?

Sometime between the request for a $100 and a request for $60 it finally clicked with me that he was robbing me (I'm not very good at getting hints).  The way he asked for money was to repeatedly and threateningly ask to "buy some candy", as he pretended to be one of those kids who sell candy.  When he asked for $100, my thought was that it was too much to pay for candy, so that's why I refused.  Yes, I'm that slow.

[Berkut]

LOL, what a great story DG. I could totally see myself going through that mental confusion.

"WTF? $100 for candy? ARE YOU ON CRACK!?!!?! Oh...wait...."

[BuddhaRhubarb]

LOL, what a great story DG. I could totally see myself going through that mental confusion.

"WTF? $100 for candy? ARE YOU ON CRACK!?!!?! Oh...wait...."

[CountDeMoney]

Who the hell is stupid enough to mug you for $60?

Dammit - the stupidity of criminals never ceases to amaze me.

I'm trying to figure out who lets themselves withdraw $60 for somebody without a weapon.

DG, I'm sure you are a kind, sweet soul, but sometimes, you just need to say "fuck that shit", and go whiteboy crazy, regardless of how many black eyes you get.  It's not just about money.

[CountDeMoney]

I honestly don't know what I would do in the same situation.

As a Jew, you'd have rather died than withdraw $20.

WTF MAN THERES A FEE INVOLVED

[Barrister]

Who the hell is stupid enough to mug you for $60?

Dammit - the stupidity of criminals never ceases to amaze me.

I'm trying to figure out who lets themselves withdraw $60 for somebody without a weapon.

DG, I'm sure you are a kind, sweet soul, but sometimes, you just need to say "fuck that shit", and go whiteboy crazy, regardless of how many black eyes you get.  It's not just about money.

That too.

I'm trying to put myself in that situation.  I can't be 100% sure, but I think I'd stand there with a stunned expression on me and say - "umm, no."  And walk on.  Guy might hit me once, but he's hardly going to start wailing away on me in broad daylight.

A guy with a gun gets whatever the hell he wants though.

[Admiral Yi]

In poor DGuller's defense, virtually anyone coming from a placid, law-abiding country like Russia would be unprepared for the mean streets of America.

[Neil]

In poor DGuller's defense, virtually anyone coming from a placid, law-abiding country like Russia would be unprepared for the mean streets of America.

In Russia, they wouldn't have said anything.  They'd just hit him over the head and cut the body up for organs.

[citizen k]

In poor DGuller's defense, virtually anyone coming from a placid, law-abiding country like Russia would be unprepared for the mean streets of America.

I imagine there's some places in Moscow you wouldn't want to be wandering in after dark.

[DGuller]

I'm trying to figure out who lets themselves withdraw $60 for somebody without a weapon.

DG, I'm sure you are a kind, sweet soul, but sometimes, you just need to say "fuck that shit", and go whiteboy crazy, regardless of how many black eyes you get.  It's not just about money.

Perhaps your perspective would change if you were untrained for the situation, clearly physically outmatched, already be hit once, and were made clear that real physical harm could come your way.  Maybe with more confidence I could've ensured a an outcome I would be more proud of, but eventually a warning bell in my head came on to just give him the money and get the fuck away from the situation with as little further confrontation as I could muster. 

Black eye is one thing, losing some of my teeth, suffering a brain injury from hitting the concrete at some point during the possible assault, or finding out that he's not unarmed after all, were the possibilities eventually on my mind.  I was also not keen to assume rationality on the part of a thug who robs people for $60 in broad daylight.  Last but not least, as I said earlier, I was not as composed mentally back when I was pinned against a wall as I am now typing on my keyboard.

[Kleves]

Incidentally, there have been a string of bank robberies near the University of Washington. Apparently the UW police are required to notify students of any criminal incidents. With the email notification I just recieved, they sent some tips about what to do during a robbery (specifically a bank robbery, but it seems to be generally applicable) . Here are their tips:

Simple Survival Steps

To make the best of a bad situation, think along the following lines:

* My money is insured, the only thing at risk is my safety

* Let the guy have what he wants, the sooner he gets it the sooner he'll go away

* He's probably done this before and he'll do it again - the more often he does it the better are his chances of getting caught

Although it may be difficult to control your anger in such a situation, the best thing is to let the robber go so that everybody is safe. Bank robbers are often desperate, and you don't want to mess with a desperate and scared person.

Every law enforcement official will tell you the same thing: the most heroic act you can take in a bank robbery is noticing any details about the robber. You should not try to stop the robbery by force. Keep in mind that an increasing number of bank robbers are using powerful drugs (cocaine and methampheta

mine) during the time of the robbery. You don't want to take chances with an intoxicated person in a desperate situation. If you notice that a bank robbery is in progress, simply get some details on the robber that you can pass on to the police. Try to observe:
* Clothing - look for layers under the visible layer (the outer layer will come off)
* Physical characteristics - height, weight, eyes, hair, mannerisms, scars/tattoos
* Automobile description (not the most important since it's probably stolen)
* Direction of travel
* Weapons - the police need to know if the robber is armed

Remember that the bank robber is trying to avoid getting caught, and he probably knows what you're looking for. Therefore, do not stare at a bank robber. In fact, it's best not to attract any attention to yourself. Simply follow instructions so that the robber can get out of there as soon as possible. Law enforcement will pursue the robber. Agitating a bank robber can result in harm to yourself and/or others.