Violent Mugging in East Dulwich (March 2nd 2017)

[rendelharris]

geobz Wrote:

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> rendelharris Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Lowlander Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> >

> > > One thing I was told years later (by an

> ex-army

> > > martial arts chap) was: curl up and don't

> fight

> > > back.

> >

> > I was told the same by several policemen with

> whom

> > I used to play rugby - and they certainly

> weren't

> > wimpy soft on crime types! They used to say

> that

> > it's only in the movies that one beats two or

> > more, in any normal matchup you're simply not

> > going to win against multiple assailants. The

> > only advice they added is if possible go down

> with

> > your back to a wall when you curl up - knees

> and

> > elbows will protect your front, try to keep

> > kidneys, spleen and back of the head out of the

> > way.

>

> Thats just not true. Period.

>

> But ye for a normal person, best thing to do is

> not to fight back, unless you feel like your life

> is worth an iphone.

>

> A good idea would be, in case you heard them

> coming on the pavement before and you got

> suspicious to go and start ringing doorbells like

> crazy, wake up the neighborhood, they might get

> scared and leave once they see you waking up

> people.

What's not true?

[JohnL]

Lowlander Wrote:

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> Hmm. I was mugged back in the 1980s up north.

> Luckily just m pride and a few scratches. Took me

> a while to get over it as I knew the attackers.

> Didn't report it (as I knew them) and no support

> in those days.

>

Same situation years ago - multiple moans to their peer

group leader (they were football hooligan types) and he

pariahed them :)

He's still one of the few people back home who comes over

for a chat if I 'm visiting.

[Penguin68]

At school in the 1960s I was taught self defence by an ex RSM of the Royal Marines. His advice was always run first - use any self defence skills only as a last resort. But he also said that if you did have to fight, fight dirty, and always kick a man once he's down. But it also became clear that unless you practiced skills very regularly then the chances of it 'coming back to you' in extremis were very slight.

[JohnL]

Penguin68 Wrote:

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> At school in the 1960s I was taught self defence

> by an ex RSM of the Royal Marines. His advice was

> always run first - use any self defence skills

> only as a last resort. But he also said that if

> you did have to fight, fight dirty, and always

> kick a man once he's down. But it also became

> clear that unless you practiced skills very

> regularly then the chances of it 'coming back to

> you' in extremis were very slight.

Yes run first was what was said to me.

I'll distract too - excuse me officer, oh boys I've got a meeting

got to go (normalise the situation) - and then off like the wind.

If they just punch first as they did to the Op - I don't see a way

out :(

[Sue]

I was also once taught self defence by some "expert".

I came home eager to demonstrate my new found skills to my then partner.

He overpowered me in about a zillionth of a second, and that was in a situation where I knew he was going to attack.

I think put in a situation like this, you act instinctively, and although you may think you know what you will do, when it comes to it, you don't.

Years ago my sister was mugged in broad daylight in Kennington. She hung onto her bag and got knifed across the hand (luckily no worse). But I'm guessing she didn't stop to think "oooh, I'd better let him have the bag or I might get hurt."

ETA: He got the bag anyway :(

[JohnL]

Sue Wrote:

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> I was also once taught self defence by some

> "expert".

What I did notice about my Karate teacher was he was

always at war with both the gangs in his neighborhood and

the police in his neighborhood (never mind the rest).

I used to think - why don't you do diplomacy :)

but it really wasn't in his nature.

[natty01295]

Very sorry for you hope your feeling OK ?

But Don't carry expensive items, and try to make lots of noise to distract them

You must be very Angry and upset about losing your items

[Jules-and-Boo]

Running is definitely the best thing to do.

Throw the items they want on the ground - AWAY from you. It will give you a second to run in the opposite direction.

And just run.

1) you won't be threatening them

2) chasing after you defeats their purpose (which is to get your items)

[Grotty]

We had a police chase around our road yesterday afternoon (Lyndhurst Grove/Lyndhurst Way) at about 3pm - 4 guys on 2 scooters - similar description to the original post. They did have helmets on and a police van was speeding after them. Sadly they seemed to lose them pretty quickly but the helicopter was out shortly after. No idea what happened but I wonder if it was the same guys...

[Jeremy]

Penguin68 Wrote:

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> But it also became clear that unless you practiced skills very

> regularly then the chances of it 'coming back to

> you' in extremis were very slight.

I agree... martial arts or self defence techniques are only going to help if you practise very regularly. And even then it's probably not going to be any help at all in a 2-against-1 situation. Putting one of the guys away with a single punch is beyond the capabilities of most of us, you're probably just going to piss them off, and earn yourself a much worse beating.

[JohnL]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> Penguin68 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > But it also became clear that unless you

> practiced skills very

> > regularly then the chances of it 'coming back

> to

> > you' in extremis were very slight.

>

> I agree... martial arts or self defence techniques

> are only going to help if you practise very

> regularly. And even then it's probably not going

> to be any help at all in a 2-against-1 situation.

> Putting one of the guys away with a single punch

> is beyond the capabilities of most of us, you're

> probably just going to piss them off, and earn

> yourself a much worse beating.

The takeout punches are like a punch to the throat - which can get you a manslaughter charge

So no - I prefer to talk my way out - the stress of a court case wouldn't be worth my dodgy old iPhone6 and a few pounds.

Edit: I have heard that if you hurt these bullies - the first thing they do is run to the police saying you (the victim) brutalized them.

[Jeremy]

The throat is not an easy target to punch, you'd be better off with a "chop" or grabbing the adams apple. But either way - and although I don't know you, John - I suspect that against multiple attackers, having the shit kicked out of you would be a more likely outcome, than you finding yourself in court.

[adonirum]

"hit the biggest one so hard the rest run".......wasn't this a Jason Statham film !!!

[uncleglen]

The OP said they demanded his phone and 'a second later' he was punched in the face- reminded me of this

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,885740,page=1

very often these thugs like to put the boot in.....it doesn't matter that they get your property- they are obviously after something else

[titch juicy]

If you find yourself in a situation where you absolutely have no choice but to fight back- always start by kicking as hard as you can in the shins. The biggest, hardest person will go down with a hard kick to the shins.

[robbin]

Maybe think twice before following that advice if you are wearing heels or trainers!

Or start wearing steel capped work boots about town.

[KidKruger]

Eyes, balls, side of knees and insteps (stamps).

If you absolutely have to.

Forget about punching.

And keep your elbows up around the sides of your head.

Good luck !

[JohnL]

robbin Wrote:

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> Maybe think twice before following that advice if

> you are wearing heels or trainers!

>

> Or start wearing steel capped work boots about

> town.

Reminds me of when in school I suddenly started wearing DMs :)

[JohnL]

adonirum Wrote:

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> "hit the biggest one so hard the rest

> run".......wasn't this a Jason Statham film !!!

It was my Karate teacher - but think he liked quoting films.

[JohnL]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> The throat is not an easy target to punch, you'd

> be better off with a "chop" or grabbing the adams

> apple. But either way - and although I don't know

> you, John - I suspect that against multiple

> attackers, having the shit kicked out of you would

> be a more likely outcome, than you finding

> yourself in court.

I'm too old now to fight anyway - would need to come up

with alternative solutions :)

[paulipedia]

First of all I'm glad you're alright and can write about your experience. I wasn't so lucky.

I would advise anyone against fighting back (unless you are f****** hard), they could easily have knives or worse a gun although unlikely. Screaming for help would be wiser and running to the nearest front door and banging the hell out of it or smashing someones front window would be my choice if I good go back in time.

I got jumped by 5 kids in Balham about 10 years ago, I was lucky I wasn't in a coma. My head was the size of a football.

A friend of a friend wasn't so lucky. He got jumped by the same group and they smashed his eye socket.

You got off pretty lightly by the sound of it, although a little naive to be wondering the streets with all that stuff at 4am. I'm guessing your were too drunk to cycle?

They also did you a favour by leaving your keys and passport. At least they weren't complete c*nts. Just lost boys. I would put money on that they are local from one of the estates.

Oh they got caught in the end, they always do. The Police traced 100 crimes back to their flat full of stolen goods and are now serving 13 yrs behind bars. Unfortunately they are now learning how to be real criminals.

Use Uber next time, Panther are cheap too. Other taxi firms are available

[loni]

Sorry that happened to you Andrew..get well soon. Cowards only hunting in packs..

[geobz]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> If you find yourself in a situation where you

> absolutely have no choice but to fight back-

> always start by kicking as hard as you can in the

> shins. The biggest, hardest person will go down

> with a hard kick to the shins.

where did you learn that, your dancing class?

[JohnL]

geobz Wrote:

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> titch juicy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > If you find yourself in a situation where you

> > absolutely have no choice but to fight back-

> > always start by kicking as hard as you can in

> the

> > shins. The biggest, hardest person will go down

> > with a hard kick to the shins.

>

>

> where did you learn that, your dancing class?

It might be funny but dancers are really flexible and athletic actually :)

Beat up the mugger ... with Ballet

[uncleglen]

I think the English penchant for joking in the face of adversity has worn very thin personally JohnL