Tungsten
Ultimate Member
Did a search, didn't see it anywhere on here. Facebook has been lighting up with reports about a # of people getting mugged at gunpoint. Ghetto bird has been very busy the last couple nights over here. Can any LEO's confirm that is what is going on? It sounded like a viral urban myth at first but the details seem to fit and multiple people are talking about it. Here is what I got:
I just received this email from my coworker, Stephanie, who lives on the 600 block of Kenwood, near Gabes. She doesn't know Tanya, the author--she just received the email from a friend.
Friends & Family,
They say it doesn't hit home until it happens to you or a close
friend, well I certainly learned a valuable lesson in city living last
night.
I came home later than normal, around 9:15 pm from the county and was
looking for parking on O'Donnell St. I was able to get parking on the
corner of O'Donnell and Kenwood, about one block for my house,
directly next to St. Casmir's church (mistake #1). I was walking
towards the square, carrying a few bags of groceries and did not
notice anyone in the area. I was on the phone taking to my mom
(mistake #2). Before I knew what was happening, a man quickly
approached me from behind, bearhugging me and knocked me to the ground
with a gun to my head. I immediately started screaming and dropped
everything I had, telling him to take whatever he wanted. Because I
was on the phone, my mom heard the entire scuffle. I was certainly
making a scene so the man probably started to get nervous and began to
take a few steps back towards the church. I also heard yelling from
another man not too far away (his accomplice, we think). I tried to
grab my purse and run but he began running back towards me so I
dropped everything but my phone (which I had picked up after falling)
and started running towards my house on the square.
Jen had actually heard me screaming from her bedroom. I was banging on
the door and within seconds safe in my home. She immediately called
the police and tried to calm me down. We called over to Kristen (who
lives directly across from where it happened) to see if she saw anyone
and/or my bags and car keys. She gathered a little troop and was able
to find my car keys in the street and recover my groceries, guess that
guy wasn't so interested in my fruits and vegetables. He made off with
my purse.
Unluckily for him, I just returned from Germany and hadn't restocked
my wallet with everything I usually have in there, such as gift cards,
my checkbook, etc. So he got a few bucks, my major credit cards,
sunglasses, my glasses (which I am probably most mad about) and
whatever other nicknacks I had in my purse.
The police arrived shortly, including a helicopter flying around
Canton, to get my story and took me to the police station for further
questioning. Meanwhile my mom called my dad and Dari made it down in
record time so he came with me to the police station.
There was also a witness, another girl my age that was walking towards
her car right where it happened so she gave her story and also came to
the police station. She told the police if it wasn't me, it was going
to be her next.
At the police station there was a another guy, late 20s, who had also
just been held up at gun point on Wolf St just before me. He was
approached by 2 black guys, one of which matched my description
exactly. He was carrying a laptop, which they tried to get but in the
end only made out with his wallet and phone.
The guy(s) attempted to use my credit card within minutes at the BP on
Central Ave so we think he/they had a car.
The police are hopeful they will find him, as this was 1 of 3 similar
cases in the past couple days, but who knows. It may take a few days,
weeks, or maybe never. I didn't get a good look at him unfortunately,
just a 6 ft young black guy, probably early 20s, wearing jeans and a
dark sweatshirt with the hood up.
The main point is that I am safe, just a few scrapes and bruises, and
extremely lucky. The takeaway from the story is to always be aware.
Guy or girl, large or small, when you are alone you are very
vulnerable, even if you are somewhere like the Canton Square at 9pm on
a Monday night. I was the perfect target, a young girl alone, holding
bags, and on the phone.
Just wanted to let you all know, especially those of you who live in
the city, and give as much detail as I can remember so I don't have to
retell this awful story over and over.
Ciao (your very lucky and now wiser friend),
Tanya
I just received this email from my coworker, Stephanie, who lives on the 600 block of Kenwood, near Gabes. She doesn't know Tanya, the author--she just received the email from a friend.
Friends & Family,
They say it doesn't hit home until it happens to you or a close
friend, well I certainly learned a valuable lesson in city living last
night.
I came home later than normal, around 9:15 pm from the county and was
looking for parking on O'Donnell St. I was able to get parking on the
corner of O'Donnell and Kenwood, about one block for my house,
directly next to St. Casmir's church (mistake #1). I was walking
towards the square, carrying a few bags of groceries and did not
notice anyone in the area. I was on the phone taking to my mom
(mistake #2). Before I knew what was happening, a man quickly
approached me from behind, bearhugging me and knocked me to the ground
with a gun to my head. I immediately started screaming and dropped
everything I had, telling him to take whatever he wanted. Because I
was on the phone, my mom heard the entire scuffle. I was certainly
making a scene so the man probably started to get nervous and began to
take a few steps back towards the church. I also heard yelling from
another man not too far away (his accomplice, we think). I tried to
grab my purse and run but he began running back towards me so I
dropped everything but my phone (which I had picked up after falling)
and started running towards my house on the square.
Jen had actually heard me screaming from her bedroom. I was banging on
the door and within seconds safe in my home. She immediately called
the police and tried to calm me down. We called over to Kristen (who
lives directly across from where it happened) to see if she saw anyone
and/or my bags and car keys. She gathered a little troop and was able
to find my car keys in the street and recover my groceries, guess that
guy wasn't so interested in my fruits and vegetables. He made off with
my purse.
Unluckily for him, I just returned from Germany and hadn't restocked
my wallet with everything I usually have in there, such as gift cards,
my checkbook, etc. So he got a few bucks, my major credit cards,
sunglasses, my glasses (which I am probably most mad about) and
whatever other nicknacks I had in my purse.
The police arrived shortly, including a helicopter flying around
Canton, to get my story and took me to the police station for further
questioning. Meanwhile my mom called my dad and Dari made it down in
record time so he came with me to the police station.
There was also a witness, another girl my age that was walking towards
her car right where it happened so she gave her story and also came to
the police station. She told the police if it wasn't me, it was going
to be her next.
At the police station there was a another guy, late 20s, who had also
just been held up at gun point on Wolf St just before me. He was
approached by 2 black guys, one of which matched my description
exactly. He was carrying a laptop, which they tried to get but in the
end only made out with his wallet and phone.
The guy(s) attempted to use my credit card within minutes at the BP on
Central Ave so we think he/they had a car.
The police are hopeful they will find him, as this was 1 of 3 similar
cases in the past couple days, but who knows. It may take a few days,
weeks, or maybe never. I didn't get a good look at him unfortunately,
just a 6 ft young black guy, probably early 20s, wearing jeans and a
dark sweatshirt with the hood up.
The main point is that I am safe, just a few scrapes and bruises, and
extremely lucky. The takeaway from the story is to always be aware.
Guy or girl, large or small, when you are alone you are very
vulnerable, even if you are somewhere like the Canton Square at 9pm on
a Monday night. I was the perfect target, a young girl alone, holding
bags, and on the phone.
Just wanted to let you all know, especially those of you who live in
the city, and give as much detail as I can remember so I don't have to
retell this awful story over and over.
Ciao (your very lucky and now wiser friend),
Tanya
