AIBU to actually be a little bit scared now?

[PaintedLady2014]

I live in Colchester. If people have seen the news then you will know there have been a spate of attacks and nasty murders here recently. A woman was attacked last night about 3 minutes from my house and to be honest I'm actually shitting myself a bit. Another woman was stabbed to death in broad daylight only a few days ago.

The two murders were horrible (the poor guy was stabbed over 100 times), there are a lot of similarities to the more recent one but at the same time we don't want to be hysterical about it.

I've never felt unsafe walking at night on my own, I lived in London for years and have always considered myself streetwise and I am careful. But this is starting to get really scary now.

Anyone else local to me on here?

we were talking about this at work this week - it seems every wee there is stabbing/mugging/shop hold-up/robbery in the area. Not nice at all.

I would invest in some self defence spray (quite cheap on eBay/Amazon) and a rape alarm. Maybe take a self defence class?

It never used to be like this here, apart from when I moved to London for a few years I've lived here all my life. Obviously we have crime, but I've never felt like I've had to change the way I go about my life.

I have been thinking about it Fixitagaintomorrow. I'm quite quick and strong, but that's not always enough.

Paintedlady

You and me both. Makes me feel very scared. I'm living 10 minutes walk away where the first murder happened and it really worries me.

Especially seeing how many people walk alone with headphones in so would probably not even hear an attacker.

I know what you mean. I never have headphones in, and I won't talk on the phone when walking alone unless it's in a busy area. I know people who knew the first guy, it's tragic.

I think you'd benefit from it, they'll teach you little things that could save your life such as if an attacker grabs you from behind, don't struggle just push back against them and jab with your elbows.

I feel the same, I live in central Colchester and after the first murder I was still going about my business, walking alone etc but I'm feeling very nervous now.

I wanted to walk up to High Woods this week to pick some elderflowers but no way I'm doing that now. I walk everywhere but will be using the bus to get to places now as my routes have a lot of isolated parts like up by the railway line. I lock all the doors too. Not like me at all but I'm rattled.

I have lived in London, including through the terrorist attacks and I never allowed myself to be to scared to go about my business.

That's exactly the thing FlyLikeABird. I live in New Town, which has the advantage of being residential but it's pitch black at night since they switched the bloody lights off!

I walk down the alley-way behind Aldi all the time, but I won't be now. It doesn't even seem safe at daytime if you're alone.

I'm pretty laid back and don't generally get hysterical about things but this is just crazy.

I never felt bothered in London. I lived near Lewisham for 4 years which is one of the worst areas.

Literally just now another thing has popped up on my feed. A man was beaten up and robbed on St Botolphs roundabout last night. Totally unconnected to the other attacks but for fuck's sake.

That gentleman's murder was on CrimeWatch recently wasn't it? Poor man.

I'm in Glasgow and there's been a good few rapes recently. Pretty scary to think these things happen so close to home

I'm in Suffolk and used to work in Colchester, so not a million miles away. I know how you are feeling, it was the same for me when we had the run of murders of girls in Ipswich a few years ago - despite having lived in London for years I did then start to get nervous.

When I saw your thread title I thought "Ooh I bet this is about Colchester...."

I'm in Colchester too and I'm feeling the same. I used to be quite happy about walking alone and I'd take the dog to Highwoods without a thought but I'm finding myself if not nervous, certainly more aware and cautious.

....and isn't it amazing how absolutely PITCH black it is without street lights?! I never realised!

I'm in Southend and murder seems to be on the up here too!

They've arrested someone in connection with the murdered woman. He was originally arrested as a suspect in last night's attack on a jogger.

There were two attacks in town last night. Two people beaten up and robbed, and then the poor woman who managed to get away near me.

Proper scary shit!

dottygamekeeper - I remember those poor women you're talking about. That was a scary time as well.