I am typing this with one hand, as my other is in a bandage. Not a sling, because I have not broken my arm. A bandage, because last night I was stabbed.
Not with a switchblade, but with a broken beer bottle. I was mugged coming back from a club in London. I was alone, and was stopped by a lone yob, around 18-22 in age. He asked for my wallet, which I refused to give him. He then threatened me with a smashed beer bottle, holding it by the neck and then slashing through the air with it. I refused, figuring that if he made a move then I could run (I run for a proffesional club, and I reckon I can out-sprint a violent yob). He reached for me. Somewhat stupidly, I went to punch him, and came on the wrong end of the bottle. It made a slash up my left arm, quite deep. I ran, and I ran damn fast. He tried to throw the bottle at me, but I ducked under it. I got away, and went to A+E straight away. I was kept for a few hours, in which the police spoke to me, then I came home.
I am not telling you this story to make myself seem 'cool' or 'tough'. I am telling you this because I am damn disgusted with street crime. I have been jumped a few times in London, but never been as seriously hurt as this. However, once is enough. Did you know that you're more likely to get mugged in London that New York? I was wondering if anyone else lives in an area of vicious muggings.

Man, sorry to hear that. I'm glad you're OK overall, that's what matters.
Five years ago, I was headed out to meet some friends for a day-trip. We were heading out at 6am, so I was on the road by 5 to meet them. Excited about our day at the beach, I pulled into a gas-station, and filled up. A man, a bit older than I approached and asked for a ride. It was raining lightly, and I was in a great mood, so I let him in the car, and headed down the road. we chit-chatted for about 10 minutes, then I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. He had pulled a knife.
He sat on my right, and held the knife in his right hand, so he was having to twist his body to try and reach me. I slammed the brakes, and back-fisted him with my right arm.

I jumped out of the car, grabbing my keys when I did. He sat still trying to figure out what to do, finally moving to the driver's seat. Meanwhile, I opened my trunk, and pulled out a three-foot long prybar, which I used at work.

He moved back to the passenger side when I approached, and jumped out of the car. I was shocked to see that I had shattered his nose from my first blow, and he was bawling. Blood was pouring out, and he was hysterical.

He pleaded for help. I frisked him, threw the knife away, and drove him to the hospital. I was late for my meeting, and my friends left without me. :(

I do dude, the part of the city i live in has a very bad rep. A couple of guys once tried to mug me when i returned from the bank late at night, they pulled a knife at me, but i'm prepared for those kind of things. Like you i'm not saying this to look tough or anything like that, it's just that i refuse to be a victim !

i agree. i was jumped by two black guys in my town on my way back from a bar. they wanted my wallet and wedding ring, but all they got was some elbows and knees. i have studied muay-thai for a little while, and having a few drinks in me, made me a little numb. i still had motor skills, so i was able to fight, just didnt feel the hits, heh. i got home, WITH my wallet and ring, plus bruised ribs, a swollen eye, and split knuckles. my wife nearly freaked out, until i told her that one had to help the other limp away after i kicked him in the knee. im just glad that THEY were drunk too. if they were sober, and i was buzzed like that, im sure i would have been DESTROYED!!!

anyway, the point(s) of this response is:

A) im sorry that this happened to you, and i hope that you are ok.
B) that i know exactly what you mean about street crime, and it NEEDS to stop.
C) i also wanted to post about MY experience, because it happened not too long ago. i REALLY hate those who have no jobs, lives, etc. and blame hard working citizens like you and i for their misfortune. then try to rob you because you have something that they want/need, but dont want to work to get. i think you did well in NOT giving him what he wanted, though it COULD have been alot worse. alot of martial-artists and self defense instructors will tell you to just give them the wallet, money and cards can be replaced, but your life cant. i agree, to an extent. if i CAN take them, i will, JUST to show them a lesson. a lesson they more than likely will forget, but a lesson none the less. good job man. [img]graemlins/ninja.gif[/img]

Sorry to hear this Horatio. London is a dangerous city. I have to say that I've never been mugged although one bloke asked me if I had any money one night. I said 'yes thank you' he said 'I'll just see if my gun is working' and I laughed.

I sometimes wonder how many times muggers have looked at me as a victim. It helps that I am a man mountain.

The most vulnerable people in London are young males returning from a night's drinking.

Dude that sucks. I guess I am lucky to live in a small town.

I am sorry about what happen to you though.

Good job morgan. Most street thugs are not prepared for leg kicks. I used to live around alot of druggys but luckily no one ever came after me.

I think as the economy gets worse, crime gets worse and more violent. I used to work for the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) a few years back. I was dispatched to a robbery at a local convenience store one night at approx 2:00 am. I was the first to arrive on scene, and policy was no weapons drawn unless in physical danger. I didn't see anyone in the store except the clerk behind the counter. I went into the store, thinking that the perp had left, but it turns out the clerk was unconcious behind the counter and the perp was wearing his uniform.
I was shot twice, once in the back and once in the neck which ended my career. After 2 years of surgery and rehab, I walk with a slight limp, but I am still alive.
The moral? There really isn't one I just wanted to let you know that even "proffessional crime fighters" are subject to violence just as much, if not more than regular people.
I hope your okay, man, just don't walk home from a bar at that time. Many thugs and punks are waiting when bars let out just for that reason. Many people who leave bars at closing are intoxicated and their judgement and reason are impaired.
And Morgan, you were lucky. The best thing to do is give them whatever they want period, because it's not worth your life. You have no idea, what the muggers MO is or what kind of weapons they have. A leg kick can't beat a bullet.

It can if you kick really, really, really, hard :D

Do you wear a blue suit with a big S on the front by any chance?

Dude, sorry to hear about ur misfortune Horatio. But seriously, as we advance in age, thugs like these will increase. I mean, for the NY, security is so tight and the cops are so busy with huntin for terrorrists and sh*t that they forget that muggers and people like them are still out there. Its kinda sad.

That SUCKS Horatio.Its good you were able to get away without being more seriously hurt. If anyone gives you any flak about running remind them that it is better to run and live than to be a hero and die. Who knows what could have happened if you had stayed and fought more.

I have been in a similar situation twice. I have almost been mugged twice in Washington D.C. Both times in the same neighborhood. Why do all the best clubs have to be in the shittiest parts of town?? Anyway, to make a long story short, I beat my muggers untill they crawled away. In my experience muggers dont expect you to throw them a good beating. My advice would be for you to get into some kind of martial art, Horatio. Boxing, kendo ,Kung-fu anything realy. Just avoid takeing Tae kwon do, all it does is teach you how to not get hurt while your getting beat up. Personaly I have taken classes in thai boxing(4 yrs), kendo(2 yrs) , and last week started classes in closed crane kung fu. You dont have to be built like the incredible hulk to shatter an attackers bones, joints and organs. You just need to know what your doing.

Also , unless you know what your doing dont try useing a knife, collapsable baton, stick, pepper spray or any other weapon against a mugger. Chances are the mugger will get it away from you and then use it on you. The only time an attacker should know that you are armed is AFTER you have stuck your knife in them and used your baton on their head!!

No I wear loose fitting purple pants so they dont rip when I get pissed off and triple in size ;)

[ 07-11-2002, 11:16 PM: Message edited by: caleb ]

Ah Urban life, though the worst crime commited against me was in rural alabama when some bigot hippie whacked me! That was only a little bit worse than the street gang that rolled me and a few friends, calling us "Faggots" because my quite scottish friend wore a kilt!!! Black keyes and broken ribs suck, but they have nada on a stab wound!

Just today and adding to my careful Paranoia the B.D.P. dropped off a mug sheet at my store with about 29 suspected pick-pockets. Damn thugs if they arent pointing a weapon at ya ,they sneakin into your pocket! I only carry my ID and my card in a front pocket to avoid thugs getting my stash and I try to carry less than $20 cash. Its f****D up if ya read the police blotter every day in the local rags, petty crime and mugging is all to common here and to top that off I'm in retail so I got shoplifters to boot!

I hate theives!!! (unless they are in D&D) [img]smile.gif[/img]

Annual crime figures released in the UK today show an increase in street crime of 28%.

Generally crime has not increased.

Thanx for all the nice replies guys, and for those who posted similar experiances, I feel for ya.
To Hunter, I have taken a few martial arts courses, but I took Judo religiously for 4 yrs. Also, I'm quite tall (6 ft 3) and well built (11 stone) so I look quite intimidating, so usually I don't get a lot of trouble.
My arm has been causing me trouble today, the stitches burst this morning. I had to go to hospital again (because of the size of the wound, they told me to come back if the stitches went) and have it done again, then I went back to my flat and cleaned up my bed sheets. God, blood is hard to wash out.
I swear, if I run into the little SOB that did this, I'm gonna go down on him like a ton of bricks, THEN take him to the police station. Grrrr.....

And then he'll press charges and you get arrested. Think again Horatio ! Just hope you never meet the loser again, it's better that way.

I carry a GLOCK compact in .357 Sig with two ten round clips and Triton night sights. The BEST damn defense, PERIOD! Add that to being well over six feet tall, 270 lbs, and not getting drunk while out in public. I've never had an incident, but I like to be prepared. Here's another good tip. If an assailant is confronting you WITHOUT a gun, scatter some loose bills on the ground in front of him and retreat. Most will go for the bills and give you time to escape.

Are you nuts ? I won't give anything except a kick right where it hurts !

are the streets over in America *really* that dangerous? I'm not sure I'd even WANT to leave the house if the conditions were like that...

I don't like to carry weopons. Friend of mine got caught carrying a switch while drunk, and spent the night with PC Plod down at Soho Station.
I especially refuse to carrying a gun. Those things kill people, and whether in self-defense or not, you WILL go down for it. Plus, I'd feel strange carrying one to a club where I'm supposed to have FUN.

Not that bad, but hey, I'm not to sure bout Vegas.

All you need to get the blood out is powdered meat tenderizer from the grocery store. Just wet the spots where the blood is and the sprinkle it on. You have to let it set for an hour or so , but then you can just wash the sheets like normal. It will break up the blood without bleaching the sheet.I use it all the time on my clothes.I work as a chef and on the days where I have to play butcher I end up looking like something from a horror movie.