Crime Rates (i need to vent)

[wally426ci]

3 months ago, we bought a house and moved into a new neighborhood. Its really nice but surrounded by bad neighborhoods. It seems everyewhere you go, 1 block is nice and the immediate next block is trash. I've done what I could to secure the house and garage.

A few weeks ago our neighbor was mugged outside of her own house, from then we were careful about keeping a close eye out on any suspicous activity. My girlfriend and I have both lived in, what seemed to be "Worse" neighborhoods, but last night we got a horrifying reminder.

Karen (my GF) went out straight from work with some friends, i usually try to stay up and wait for her just as i did the previous night, well after taking her advice i tried to catch up on some sleep. I was awoken by her frantically beating on the front door. I scrambled to the door, fumbling with the locks, and let her in. She was Mugged as she got out of her car (1/2 BLOCK FROM OUR HOUSE!) You can easily throw a rock as far. 

As she locked the car, she turned around to see 2 younger guys step off the curb toward her, she then walked out into the middle of the road under the street light and as one guy grabbed her purse she set off the car alarm and began screaming. He knocked her down to the ground and when she saw the other guy approach while reaching in his shirt, she gave up and they ran away with her purse. We spent the next hour at the police station after a huge response of 4 police cars.

Im so frustrated.  I really wish i had been on the lookout for her coming home. I feel terrible that i could not protect her. Living in Baltimore, its very hard not to generalize people when all you see is Crime and Violence. I searched the alleys and streets for blocks this morning and put word out to the sanitary workers collecting trash.

I dont know what else to do, I feel like i cant even pull the Challenger out and work on it without some Peice of $h!t lowlife getting a good idea. Im scared that it will attract too much attention. I suppose im just bummed out about the danger Karen was in. Baltimore really is just like "The Wire." word of advice, if you get some great job offer in Baltimore, Md; keep looking.
 

[72hemi]

Wow, that really sucks. Hope she is doing alright. I've noticed that as well in the cities and towns that I have lived in where one block is nice and the surrounding blocks are full of trash.

[Rare_T_A]

That is one nice thing of living in the upper mid west. Nothing like that happens here very often. The big news event around here is a guy had a shoot out with the police a week ago and got shot. That is the first time it ever happened around here. I very rarelly lock my doors. The bad thing is the weather, we are to get another blizzard this weekend like we got last weekend.

I hope everything works out for you and the GF and they find the twirps. Even if they do there is nothing they can do with them. That's the sad part.

[Super Blue 72]

Man, real sorry to hear about what happened to Karen.  Guys that mugged her are pieces of doo-doo in my book.  The good thing is that she didn't get hurt, at least physically.  Make sure you continue to talk to her and keep open lines of communication about this event with her as sometimes people suffer post traumatic stress syndrome after something like this.

Might want to get her pepper spray?  Not sure.  Sometimes the attacker gets hold of it and uses it on the victim.

Yah, we think we live in a pretty safe area but no matter if it's the next block or several towns over, thugs will come into the nicer areas to do their dirty deeds.  The issue sometimes is that in the safer areas, people are more "complacent" to muggings and the sort and aren't ready for it.  Lately our town has been subject to bank robberies.  In Boston, they know how to handle it better and almost expect it daily.  Where I am, it's not heard of for the most part. 

It's just part of society now.  You have to be on guard.  I know you feel bad but you can't blame yourself for not being there, although I know I would feel the same way.  Maybe she can call you when she gets in the area and you can escort her home?  Pain in the butt but it may be good for her psychologically. 

Hope things look brighter for you and Karen. 

[js27]

I am sorry to hear about your problem but be thankful she is alright. I don't know what is going on in the world but I have to say it is alot worse today than it was when I grew up. My wife and I are planning on taking a class and be licensed to carry a concealed weapon. It 's not a cure all but I know I will feel better knowing she has some protection. The police can't be everywhere. Like it or not most of the time we are on our own for protection.
Try not to blame yourself because it is not your fault.
Hope all works out for you.
JS27

[Slotts]

That really sucks all from every angle. I hope you are renting, if so, get outa there!
I think you have the right idea about the car. I would keep a very low profile with it.
Hope it gets better for both of you.

PS: Make sure you don't move into MEK's neighborhood, either!

Slotts

[tactransman]

It never fails,when you let your guard down is when the crap happens. I would move and let the scum have the area!  Then drop a bomb on the spot. (sorry,I guess I was doing a little venting too!)

[ChallengerHK]

Sorry to hear that, and I hope she's OK. That's mostly why I'm a country person. People ask me how I like my town of 425 and I say there's too many people.

[ntstlgl1970]

Sorry that happened, glad to hear that Karen is ok as others have said. My sister in law had her arm broken when she was mugged in San Fransisco. Maybe there are some self defense courses she (or both of you - might be good for her if you were to take the course together) could take that would allow you to carry mace/pepper spray as someone else mentioned. Just me, but I like to think that most people that commit these crimes are not going to spend much time on someone who will fight back. You could get a dog, if you don't already have one, to hang out with in the garage. They make a great deterrent for lookie loos when you are doing stuff in the garage. I've lived in similar situations and had some odd people come up to me to ask weird questions, but when the dog took notice, they decided they had better places to be.

Hang in there.

[Chryco Psycho]

I don`t know what to say .. I am glad Karen is OK , the stolen purse / ID will be frustrating to replace but is replacable , I guess you really need to seriously look at make changes if possible & live else where , take a pay cut or whatever is nessisary to be safer , not much really matters in this world except the people ultimately , I assume Karen is ultimatly more important to you than anyhting else you have in your life

[mopar_guy]

wow,what a situation.atleast she was quick thinker to set of the alarm and make noise,even though it a given people have a tendancy to freeze up or just panic in their heads and not know what to do.pepper spray would be good.ccw. i dont know.hope all works out for you guys.

[Moparal]

I am so glad Karen is ok, she may never really get over the trama though. I feel for you and her both.

[wally426ci]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I appreciate that you all care. She is doing well, we just got back from getting the license taken care of, and all cards are cancelled. I am really glad she is all right, she definitely means the world to me. Obviously her safety comes before the car, i just wanted to address my concern in that are as well. We just got word that someone had been apprehended last night near there so we are hoping that is a lead. Unfortunately we cannot just move since we bought, but we will see in the fututre.

[Moparal]

Its too cold in Mary land, move south

[moparclown]

Glad to hear she is ok.And it is very frustrating trying to be prepared for any incident that can happen.I have been worried lately myself,with a crappy economy brings out the thieves.