Reply #13: I once came home and was going into the lobby of [View All]

[Warpy]

my building when I saw a couple of guys running up the steps after me, reflected in the glass.

I decided if I was going to get mugged, it was going to be out in front of as many witnesses as possible, so I whipped around and faced them with a disarming grin and started back down the steps, noting as many details about their appearances as I could. They looked at each other and ran off.

I found out later they'd been on a spree, too, and both were armed.

If I'd pulled a weapon, they'd have shot me. If I'd gone into the lobby and tried to open the inner door, they'd likely have caught me and beaten me because I only had a couple of dollars on me.

I just did something unpredictable, instead. That was enough to get rid of them. I'm sure it doesn't always work, but my thinking was sound: stay in the most public place possible and get a really, really good look at them.

Don't let THEM choose the place.

Being threatened by muggers or robbers or gunnies of any type is unnerving. The best plan is to give them what they want. If they're still threatening, RUN AWAY. Most of them are lousy shots. They might get lucky and hit you but they're unlikely to kill you.

(I won't get a gun because I'm still pretty blind. I'd be a menace, mostly to myself.)