What are you supposed to do if you are being mugged?

[NameChangedAndForgotOldName]

Clear up an argument for me....
Do you fight back?
Or
Hand over what they want?

DD was mugged by 2 guys when she was a teenager...she is a second dan black belt in karate...she flattened them...both dumped on the floor

she's stupid, and I hope you told her so. Lucky for her the didn't have a knife, or a gun, or a taser, or bottle of acid, or a cosh, or a high powered laser, or back up, or a look out, or a friend in a car or on a motorbike watching, etc etc etc

Who is saying fight?

Advice I’d follow is throw your bag, phone whatever at them but away from you and get the hell out of there if you can!

At my front door with bags of shopping having been followed home by by two men. One of them grabbed my handbag and ran. I chased them and got my bag back - totally instinctive and without any thought. It was a shoulder bag with a long strap that dangled so as they ran away I was able to grab it back. They carried on running and I threw myself into the house and locked the doors.
On the phone to the police - and the muggers came back and rang my door bell. I was so frightened - in complete hysterics to the woman on the other end.
So - yes - just hand it over. It didn't bear thinking about what could have happened to me. At the time I just didn't think

Depends on whether they have a weapon and if not if you are prepared to fight dirty enough. Think fingers in eyes, stamp on heads etc

I went in training once where the guy running it said to throw your bag/whatever they’re trying to take as far away as possible from you and then run while they go for the bag while shouting “here’s the bag/phone/whatever- it was susie lamplugh training iirc

I’d also advise to just hand it over although as others say you never know what instinct will make you do. I was pick pocketed many years ago and I felt the brush and saw a flash of my purse in the bloke’s hand as he ran off. I ran after him, grabbed him and shook his arm until he dropped my purse. I also shouted loudly “he’s nicked my purse” as I ran after him. We were in a big shop though so he didn’t have a clear getaway though and my shouting caused a commotion. Still did think how lucky I was after the event that nothing happened to me though. But instinct took over.

If it were to happen now I would hand it over and run (I think...)

Tbf the guy running the training even carried a fake spare wallet to throw - but that won’t wxactly work for a handbag

I used to always tell everyone to throw their stuff away from them so that the nuggets go for the stuff leaving you time to run.

In reality, when I got mugged I gripped my bag as hard as I could and screamed the place down until people came. Punches to the face could not persuade me to let go.

Unfortunately in these situations, unless you specifically train for them, your instincts kick in. Everyone’s instincts are different

hesterton
I didn't sleep for weeks - had visions of them coming back to find me.
It was broad daylight - a Saturday afternoon and I had sort of realised that they were following me - but wasn't certain. I suppose I was on high alert so as I tried to get my key in the door when one of them grabbed the bag I was 'ready' and just reacted instinctively

If I was being mugged for belongings I’d either just hand it over or chuck it in the opposite direction and run.

If being attacked, or if someone was trying to get me into a car or something, I’d fight like buggery and scream my head off.

The ‘act crazy’ advice was given on a self defence course I did too hesterton but more as a preventative measure - like if you’re alone on a tube or feel threatened out and about, to act bizarrely to seem unpredictable and put off a potential aggressor.

I've read, as many PPs have said - drop / throw stuff in one direction and run in another.
If someone tries to take you somewhere however (kidnap or whatever) I believe the advice is to fight back and scream etc. as chances of survival much lower once you've been taken

There were loads of muggings on street I first lived on with DH in south London. I used to take keys, cards and phone out of bag and have in pockets when I left tube. Plan was they could grab my bag and would get a few ££ cash and maybe a lipstick but I'd still be able to get into my house and not need to cancel cards.

Don't do this anymore so would lose everything if mugged now, but live in different city now with less muggings, plus never go out anymore thanks to DC 😁

My frail elderly neighbour was mugged on his own doorstep. He cleverly got out his wallet (when threatened with a knife), took a fiver out and threw it away. The mugger chased the fiver and he legged it inside and locked the door.

Very resourceful for an 80 year old with a clicky hip.

Scarily this happened in a quiet suburb of a small town at 11am in the morning.

You honestly don't know until it happens.
I was mugged at gunpoint abroad and fought back. The mugger gave up and ran away. Of course I wouldn't recommend it but adrenalin has an unpredictable effect.

I’d fight back. It’s my stuff, if they want a phone and a Fossil purse they can fucking work for it like I did. Chances are, the mugger is equally as scared as me, only I’m a fucking stubborn twat and I’m in the right, I’m also noisy, and the mugger is hoping I’m going to quietly hand it over.

I do realise I am probably in the minority. I don’t blame the meek for handing their stuff over, it is just stuff, just as I said, I’m stubborn.

I do realise I am probably in the minority. I don’t blame the meek for handing their stuff over, it is just stuff, just as I said, I’m stubborn.

It’s really easy to think that, but when you’ve got a knife in your face, it’s a different situation.

the meek??

DH was told by a security bod to throw what they are looking for. So if it’s your expensive watch, fe, throw it away from yourself. Wallet, take money out and throw. The idea is it gives you time to run while they pick up the money/ jewellery.

Never argue, you don’t know if they are armed or how far they are willing to go to get your possessions.

Francis that sounds hideous, sorry. I've never been mugged exactly and couldn't say how I'd react.