I got off the metro and noticed how there were an inordinate amount of teenage boys hanging out at the top of the escalators. I emerged from the escalator and walked away from the station with my earphones on. Usually I'm listening to a marketplace podcast but today I figured I'd listen to some modest mouse. I had just walked past the barber shop when I felt a hand going into my pocket, so I automatically without thinking put my hand in my pocket to keep my iphone from being snatched out. I looked over and saw some kid in his late teens yelling "gimme your ipod!" I looked at him for a moment, taking in what he looked like, that he had short braids, a semi-dark complexion, beady eyes, unshaven peach fuzz, and a bright blue aqua hoodie. I then took in a deep breath and bellowed out "POLICE!" that could easily be heard a block away. The kid freaked, yelled, "oh shit!" and took off. I yelled out at him, "FUCKER!" and that was the end of it.
I called the cops when I got home to ask them to step up their patrol around the GA/Petworth Metro Station. This turned into multiple transfers, different phone numbers to call, and multiple call backs. Turns out that while Metro Transit police had an interest since it started out on metro property but since the actual incident took place on a public sidewalk, I had to call DC police. I ended up talking to both a beat cop and a detective that parked themselves in my living room for half an hour taking my report. They left telling me that they wished we lived in a world where a person could walk home from the metro and enjoy their music but we don't. The detective was very pessimistic about the city and it being "crime infested."
Shortly after, I got a call back from the metro transit police. Originally, they had told me they'd send out a car to take a "police info report" but then they were swamped or something and just took my account over the phone.
I don't know how I feel about the whole situation, either I can have these skirmishes or I can pay 4 bucks a gallon along with the 300 dollar car payment along with the 100 dollars for insurance a month. I dunno...I'm not sure if my days are numbered or not in terms of living in the city, but it sure does make me wish we lived in a more civil world.
[ back home ]
Comments for Attempted Robbery
I hate to suggest it, because the point of an iPod/iPhone is to be able to listen to things we enjoy while in transit, but there are two things I've learned NOT to do while walking on D.C. streets. First, never talk on my cell phone. And second, never listen to my iPod. Both drown out other sounds around me and distract me from being aware of my surroundings and who is in them.
It's a sad state of affairs and enough to make any reasonable person angry. One of the problems in this city is, parents don't know (or care) where their kids are and the mayor doesn't care either. The result: honest, hardworking people are compelled to care in ways that are defensive rather than offensive. Sad, really.
Glad you escaped largely unscathed and with your iPod intact.
It's a sad state of affairs and enough to make any reasonable person angry. One of the problems in this city is, parents don't know (or care) where their kids are and the mayor doesn't care either. The result: honest, hardworking people are compelled to care in ways that are defensive rather than offensive. Sad, really.
Glad you escaped largely unscathed and with your iPod intact.
- Posted at 5/28/2008 8:30 AM | By
J.M. Tewkesbury
If it happened near the Petworth metro, you could have walked to the Police station at 750 Park Rd NW. I usually find I get the quickest and most attentive responses by speaking face to face with an officer.
- Posted at 5/28/2008 9:17 AM | By
I had guessed that this happened at Petworth before I even read it, which is also my metro station, and serves one of the most socioeconomically diverse communities in the city.
But I have to agree with comment #1. Frankly I am amazed how many people I see walking around CH/Petworth -- at night, often!! --plugged in to their ipods, and blocking out the rest of the world.
This is NOT the suburbs. Never mind potentially losing your iphone or whatever - think about your life. When you walk down the street with your earbuds in, you might as well put a target on your back.
Sure, it would be nice to be able to live in the city and never worry about your surroundings. But that will never happen, and I wouldn't even do that in Georgetown -- even if there aren't thugs, there's still traffic and other things that might kill you if you don't pay attention to your surroundings.
Just unplug for long enough to walk home. You might actually find you enjoy taking it in for 20 minutes a day.
But I have to agree with comment #1. Frankly I am amazed how many people I see walking around CH/Petworth -- at night, often!! --plugged in to their ipods, and blocking out the rest of the world.
This is NOT the suburbs. Never mind potentially losing your iphone or whatever - think about your life. When you walk down the street with your earbuds in, you might as well put a target on your back.
Sure, it would be nice to be able to live in the city and never worry about your surroundings. But that will never happen, and I wouldn't even do that in Georgetown -- even if there aren't thugs, there's still traffic and other things that might kill you if you don't pay attention to your surroundings.
Just unplug for long enough to walk home. You might actually find you enjoy taking it in for 20 minutes a day.
- Posted at 5/28/2008 9:49 AM | By Jamie
I'm with Tewkes and Jamie...it is unwise to go through life with earbuds jammed in place. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times...plus having something expensive out in the open rarely ends well.
This situation isn't your fault, but I really doubt it would have happened in the first place if you'd put your iPod away when you got off the train.
This situation isn't your fault, but I really doubt it would have happened in the first place if you'd put your iPod away when you got off the train.
- Posted at 5/28/2008 3:01 PM | By Shannon
for the record, I've been metro-ing for over a year now and this is the first time I've had to deal with. I am always aware of my surroundings, this one time I let my guard down is when the kid came up and tried something stupid.
second, I listen to my music quite low when I'm walking around, in fact its usually an NPR show and the earphones never fit quite well in my ears so I am quite aware of ambient noise unless I crank my music (which I rarely do these days).
Its just annoying that this is my neighborhood and we've got people like this bringing the neighborhood down.
second, I listen to my music quite low when I'm walking around, in fact its usually an NPR show and the earphones never fit quite well in my ears so I am quite aware of ambient noise unless I crank my music (which I rarely do these days).
Its just annoying that this is my neighborhood and we've got people like this bringing the neighborhood down.
- Posted at 5/28/2008 3:08 PM | By phi
Phi, the issue isn't how aware you are of your surroundings, or what volume level you choose. By having your earbuds on, you gave the impression that you were unaware of your surroundings. Thereby making yourself look like a target.
I doubt anyone is saying it's your fault, or that kids have the right to hassle you or steal your stuff. It's just, well, why invite trouble?
I doubt anyone is saying it's your fault, or that kids have the right to hassle you or steal your stuff. It's just, well, why invite trouble?
- Posted at 5/28/2008 3:30 PM | By Shannon
sounds a bit like survival of the fittest to me, u know, capitalism striking back at the mighty. no one deserves to get their shit stolen, but when u live around impoverished or struggling communities, it's best to not flaunt your shit. i wouldn't listen to my ipod in impoverished white communities (ie. southeast Baltimore & those sketchy areas in philly).
- Posted at 5/28/2008 7:33 PM | By
I have to commend you on screaming for the Police when this thug approached you. That really was brave, and it probably saved you bodily harm and the iPhone. I would just suggest that you put the earphones away before you leave the train. Avoid subjecting yourself to the gas prices any more than you have to.
- Posted at 6/24/2008 9:37 AM | By
It is very sad that we cannot walk the street with something as simple as an iPOD these days. The city is out of control when it comes to crime and something definitely needs to be done about it. In the meantime, DO NOT walk around with your iPOD when in DC (or your cell phone). Keep them on your person and out of sight, just to be safe. At the same time, we need to start DEMANDING that our elected officials seriously deal with this growing crime issue.
- Posted at 7/29/2008 1:49 PM | By
The high rate of crime in Washington brings down the overall quality of life. The police are COMPLETELY incompetent - it's criminal how corrupt they are. It's not just poverty, it's a culture of immorality and violence that does not value community. In a broader, national context, it's a history of violence and oppression coming back to bite us in the ass.
- Posted at 8/12/2008 10:40 PM | By
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- Posted at 1/05/2010 4:43 AM | By