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?

I'd go with my instincts. Depending on situation.

Right thing to do is hand it over.

Part of me says kick where it hurts and run.

I was mugged at a train station when I was 18, they wanted my phone told me they had a knife. I handed it straight over, no brainer really. Luckily a man then came down the station he ran off and we called the police. Though he handed himself in the next day as he just wanted to get drugs back inside. So glad I could be of help to the prick

Mum always said give it to them!! I always have a 10 pound note in my pocket in case my bag ever gets stolen and then I’ve still got money to get some help.

If you’ve been mugged and fought back then I wouldn’t blame you because you’re acting on adrenaline and instinct. However those posters who are saying they would fight back because they are strong and stubborn and not meek really are quite stupid. It’s not meek to recognise the risk and act appropriately by surrendering your stuff. I guarantee whatever you’ve got in your bag won’t be worth being injured or killed for.

Always told to hand over and run.

However, I was mugged when I was 19. I'd done a 730/6 shift at the nursery, I had headache, I'd got the bus to college and was on my way home.

I got off the bus at 10pm round the corner from my house and some chimp tried to take.my bag out my hands. He asked for the bag I ignored him.and carried on, he put his hands on the handle of my bag and o literally lost my shit.

I yanked the bag back but at the same time I was telling really loudly and shouted "fire fire" alongside get off, fuck off etc. People started looking out Windows and coming out the pub and he just backed off slowly. Someone called the Police and my Dad

He was picked up by the Police and lucky for me he wasn't carrying any weapons, he was trying his luck after a dare by friends.

I absolutely lost it because the bag he tried to take had all my coursework in and was due to be handed in and signed off the next day. It was all handwritten and no way was someone taking it from me! I'd been up since 6am, still not home at 10pm and O was tired and hungry!

If it was to happen now though I like to think I'd just hand over my stuff but I get so angry that scum like that have the mentality that it's ok to take what you like and when you like. Especially those that target old people in their homes etc.

You are supposed to handit over, but ithink individual insincts take over, the "fight,freeze or flight" response. Its happened to me twice and my response has been fight

I guarantee whatever you’ve got in your bag won’t be worth being injured or killed for.

I agree. To plan to fight is ridiculous. What you actually do in the situation is instinctive. People making out they would attack just because they think they’re tough is not how it actually works.

If someone is trying to mug you then you should do everything you can to protect your property. Run, shout, fight; do anything you can.

My most important property is my body. The guy who mugged me at knifepoint (I handed stuff over) stabbed someone else later that night. Would it really have been worth the injuries for a Sony Walkman and a few quid? It’s infredibly arrogant to think that the vast majority of unarmed people are going to escape an armed mugger unhurt.

And who would ever say “yes our son was stabbed 12 times trying to fight off an armed mugger but we’re really pleased that he managed to hold onto his wallet, that’s the main thing. He had £35 in there! Pheweee.”

I had 2 girls pull knives on me for my handbag. They approached me from behind and already had their dirty hands on my bag before standing in front of me with the knives pointed towards my neck. I had my phone and mp3 player in my pockets so they mugged me at knifepoint for a purse with no money in, a weightwatchers magazine and a tonne of discarded receipts.

Because they didnt just grab the bag and run and got in my face I was able to identify them in a line-up. Fucking idiots. They were wanted for other crimes but no-one had been able to pin them down. They both went to prison.

I would do the same every time. Nothing is worth it. These girls would not have hurt me and I was close to home but you just never know someones state of mind and it's just not worth risking for 'stuff' x

I was mugged at a bus stop near my house. Bloke who turned out to be a druggie tried to grab my bag. I didn't think for a second, I fought back and I screamed blue murder. He wrestled with me for a bit, but then ran off, probably because I was making so much noise. I was really pleased with myself, but afterwards everyone was horrified and said I should've handed over my bag and that he could've had a knife, etc. Thing is, I didn't think, I'm a fighter so my instinct was to fight.

How sad that so many of you have been mugged in the past...I usually keep my debit card in a pocket somewhere...my phone is an ancient pay as you go....So I would just let the bag go....I'd be more upset about the make up and my house and car keys inside....

@Penners99

My first experience of a mugging was aged 15, two older girls approached me as I was taking a cut through to my friends house, middle of the day on a Saturday, they demanded I hand over my gold chain and pendant. My mum had scrimped and saved for it for my Christmas gift, I was raised by a single mother, my immediate reaction was anger, but like a cold, icy anger if that makes sense?

It went a bit like this:

Them: That's a nice chain, it'll look good on me.
Me: stare
Them 'Give me your fucking chain'.
Me: Take it
Them: What?
Me: Take it, I fucking dare you.
Them: erm...what?
Me: Take the chain and I will break your fucking hand

They then changed there minds and scarpered, very lucky my bravado didn't get my head kicked in to be honest.

I was always told to hand over your stuff as it's not worth it, and will teach my DC the same, but I just get an adrenaline rush and react angrily.

I was in a pub with friends at university about 20 years ago. Two of us had left our purses on a table and we were playing darts nearby (we were young and foolish).

Realised they had gone and there was a man nearby. Asked him if he'd seen them and he leapt up and ran through the pub.

I was furious. Mostly with myself for being stupid enough to leave them there. So I chased after him, yelling "he's got our purses" and rugby tackled him to the ground by the door.

Was most unlike me. And don't think I'd do it again.

I was nearly mugged a few weeks ago and didn’t realise what was going on until it was over! I was going to a shopping centre near me and stupidly cut through their underground car park to avoid going the long way round. I was in a world of my own walking along texting DH on my shiny new iPhone (height of stupidity I know) when I sensed someone right behind me. I stopped abruptly and the man behind me nearly went flying. At that that moment a couple drove in to park and the man took to his heels and ran. The man in the car jumped out and asked if I was ok, apparently the man was looming over me and had his hand out to grab my phone and here’s me totally oblivious!

Street smarts and being alert is what you need. My DF is a retired police officer and has always drummed into me to throw what they want on the ground then run for safety. However sometimes you just don’t get the chance or by the time you’ve realised what’s happening you are in no position to act.

Some guys tried to mug me at work a few years ago, my work is notorious for trouble and we have a lot of aggression and fights so poor behaviour is something I see a lot. Anyway I was leaving and drove to the front gates which is well out the way of the rest of the place so no other staff were about. The front gate was pulled closed which was suspicious so I got out my car, locked it and opened the gate as a guy came out of the bushes and stood there. Me not realising what was going on asked if he was ok but he didn't speak so I went to get in my car and he yanked my hair back so I turned round and punched him right in the face and ran round the other side of my car. He was sort of in shock then demanded my car keys, I said no and we argued for what felt like 5 minutes until his mate came running over from the bushes and asked where the money was. Then I realised they wanted the takings which I don't even carry as we have been robbed before and have a money collection service to pick them up. He then searched my car including climbing over the £1200 float which he didn't even notice before deciding to run off with the first wannabe mugger following him.

I can honestly say I wasn't scared or anything but its because I was at work where abuse is something I deal with a lot, had it been anywhere else I most likely would have cried and would have handed my keys over straight away. I'm a small slim woman and they could have easily overpowered me had they wanted to so I am lucky. It really is case of until your in the situation you just don't know what you would do, there are so many variables. It is sad to see how many people have been though :(

You throw the stuff at them and leg it!
Professional advice here-if you throw it they get distracted picking it up etc and you have more time to make a getaway.

Blackbutler86 where on earth do you work?

Do you work as a publican blackbutler

I'd just give them what they wanted in theory, as I carry very little of value around. I don't keep money, keys and phone in my handbag just in case it is snatched. They'd probably be very disappointed muggers tbh.

That said, the one time someone did try to mug me, I did the opposite due to adrenaline! A lad grabbed my bag, couldn't get it off me and yelled at me to hand it over - I was so shocked I yelled at him in my best stern mum voice what the HELL did he think he was doing, I knew his mother, was he really that stupid? So stupid in retrospect, but it worked - he looked stunned then ran off! He was only about 14/15 though and I was younger and more stupid then.

A friend of mine had a man try to mug her as she got out of her car outside her house and went to open her door.

As she spoke to me her voice was hoarse and she proceeded to explain it was from screaming. She fought back and made a lot of noise. She got his watch.

As she spoke to me her voice was hoarse and she proceeded to explain it was from screaming. She fought back and made a lot of noise. She got his watch.

How exactly did she get his watch?!

I know that handing it over is the right thing, and I'd always advise it. But I do wonder if rage would overtake me.

You can't be certain what you'd do. Some youths once approached me as I was walking to my car. They pointed a gun at me and demanded i hand over my fucking car keys, to which I replied "don't be silly". I got into my car and drove off, one of the guys tried to get into the back but it was so full of stuff there was no room.

It all happened so quickly I didn't have time to think.