I was mugged on the way home on Monday.
I had just got of the bus around 17:25 and was about 2 minute walk from home when a man approached me and asked if I “could help him out, and give him 20p for his bus fare” I kept walking, looked him in the eye and politely declined. I was on a well lit pavement though (an albeit overgrown) small square of land, close to shops, main road and 30 seconds from my sister’s house. I passed a young lady walking towards me just a few seconds later. I was right outside my sister’s back garden and the next thing I knew my handbag was wrenched from my arm from behind. I screamed, turned and ran after him shouting at the top of my voice “that man stole my bag, that man stole my bag!” The young lady took up the chase as well and dialled 999. The guy ran into an underpass and I decided it wouldn’t be safe to follow him. Luckily 2 young guys were walking past and chased him. Because I’d made a point of looking at the guy when he initially approached me, I was immediately able to give the police a good description. The young lady he’d passed was also able to describe him – based on his strange behaviour prior to grabbing my bag. He’d crept past her on his tiptoes, with his hands up, scoobie doo baddie style (what an idiot!). The young guys weren’t able to catch him but were able to tell police which direction he was headed. One of the guys ran to my sister’s house and she came out to look after me, with her spare keys run down to mine and get my bank details so I could cancel my cards. Within 10 minutes the police were with me, my bag with them in an evidence bag and the guy in custody. When the young guys had given his direction, the police new exactly where he was headed (a place referred to locally as ‘Dead Man’s Arch’) and were waiting for him! He’d emptied my purse of its cash, took my phone, a bar of chocolate and a pen which were found on him. He’d left my diary, ipod and keys in my bag. When he was apprehended he’s ditched my purse containing my cards and drivers licence. The guy admitted the theft immediately and offered to take police back to the area to look for my purse as he knew exactly where it was. His solicitor advised him not to…… I got my cash, phone and pen back later that night. I made my statement which took some time. Later that evening the police called me and told me his solicitor had agreed he could go and look form my purse. The police told me had 200 prior arrests and lots of failures to appear!! Anyway my purse wasn’t found.
Surprisingly I got a call from a different police station the next morning – an upstanding citizen had picked up my purse and handed it in. I got it back later that day with all of its contents! The only thing not returned was the bar of chocolate!
The Police have been great during this ordeal – apparently the guy has recently been released from prison, had made himself homeless, had many many prior arrests, etc. He was due to appear before the courts on Tuesday – I’m waiting to hear if he was held on remand.
It’s been a pretty stressful and upsetting time but I’m trying hard to take the positives from the situation – that I wasn’t hurt and got all my belonging back, that there are some wonderfully helpful strangers around who will not walk away when they see someone in distress, there are some fundamentally honest people who will not take what isn’t theirs, that the police are actually very good at what they do, and continue to do, regardless of how frustrating and pointless it is to deal with constant re-offenders. Most importantly that I am surrounded by family, friends and colleagues who care about my wellbeing and have my best interests at heart. So thank you to all of you. XXX
