Criminal activity alert
I thought I would record my story for....whatever. I was actually quite pleased by the level of neighborhood and police response I received for this because I would have considered it to be very low-level every day type of criminal activity.
A few weeks ago, Manny and I were taking our early evening walk (around 6:30) on Tasker Street to go see the holiday lights on 13th. We passed the old Vince Fumo building which is now a medical office and I saw this kid sitting there smoking a cigarette. He was staring but people often look at dogs so I didn't take much note of it. The next block which was at Iseminger I think, between 12 and 13, Manny stopped to use a tree. I felt this slight tug on my hand-bag.
When I say slight and non-agggresive and non-threatening, it was downright polite like "Uh excuse me, Ma'am? I'm with United Purse Snatchers collecting for the holidays. How much may I put you down for?"
So we wrestled back and forth over my bag. I did all the usual things, hollered for help, yelled fire, rape, whatever. According to a witness, I also apparently called my assailant a lot of not very nice names but I don't recall that. It lasted about 10-15 seconds when the strap broke, his cigarette ember exploded and in the tangle, I lost hold of Manny's leash and he took off for the hills.
So Douchebag...sorry, I mean the poverty-stricken and misunderstood fine young gentleman ran off with my bag and I ran after Manny who was now running directly into traffic and would have gotten hit by a car in all likelihood if it hadn't been for this wonderful young girl who was waiting for the bus on the corner. She stomped on his leash and stopped him and nearly got bit for her efforts.
Also this awesome lady who was walking her dog chased after douchebag for at least three blocks but lost him and this other woman who was in her house heard me screaming and came out to help me. No men got involved. Only women. There were some men around but they were busy being important hipsters.
So my dog in his little argyle sweater and I traveled by squad car to South Detectives to file the report. I guess a lot of dogs go to South Detectives because no one blinked twice at him.
I'm happy to report that my assailant didn't get very rich off of me. He was able to make one small purchase at Acme with my credit card before I cancelled it. My cellphone was ancient. My ipod was over five years old and I only had 20 bucks in my purse. I'm also happy to report that there are posters all over Tasker Street warning people about the incident and I'm not the one that put them up.
The good news is that I was eligible for a free phone upgrade this month anyway but until my new iphone arrives, I am living somewhat of an Amish lifestyle technology wise. I've been working out to my old CD walkman!
A few weeks ago, Manny and I were taking our early evening walk (around 6:30) on Tasker Street to go see the holiday lights on 13th. We passed the old Vince Fumo building which is now a medical office and I saw this kid sitting there smoking a cigarette. He was staring but people often look at dogs so I didn't take much note of it. The next block which was at Iseminger I think, between 12 and 13, Manny stopped to use a tree. I felt this slight tug on my hand-bag.
When I say slight and non-agggresive and non-threatening, it was downright polite like "Uh excuse me, Ma'am? I'm with United Purse Snatchers collecting for the holidays. How much may I put you down for?"
So we wrestled back and forth over my bag. I did all the usual things, hollered for help, yelled fire, rape, whatever. According to a witness, I also apparently called my assailant a lot of not very nice names but I don't recall that. It lasted about 10-15 seconds when the strap broke, his cigarette ember exploded and in the tangle, I lost hold of Manny's leash and he took off for the hills.
So Douchebag...sorry, I mean the poverty-stricken and misunderstood fine young gentleman ran off with my bag and I ran after Manny who was now running directly into traffic and would have gotten hit by a car in all likelihood if it hadn't been for this wonderful young girl who was waiting for the bus on the corner. She stomped on his leash and stopped him and nearly got bit for her efforts.
Also this awesome lady who was walking her dog chased after douchebag for at least three blocks but lost him and this other woman who was in her house heard me screaming and came out to help me. No men got involved. Only women. There were some men around but they were busy being important hipsters.
So my dog in his little argyle sweater and I traveled by squad car to South Detectives to file the report. I guess a lot of dogs go to South Detectives because no one blinked twice at him.
I'm happy to report that my assailant didn't get very rich off of me. He was able to make one small purchase at Acme with my credit card before I cancelled it. My cellphone was ancient. My ipod was over five years old and I only had 20 bucks in my purse. I'm also happy to report that there are posters all over Tasker Street warning people about the incident and I'm not the one that put them up.
The good news is that I was eligible for a free phone upgrade this month anyway but until my new iphone arrives, I am living somewhat of an Amish lifestyle technology wise. I've been working out to my old CD walkman!