This video is surveillance footage that captured a violent mugging during “super storm” Sandy. The incident is captured from multiple angles, allowing us to see just how coordinated the attack was, which demonstrates the lack of randomness behind the assault and robbery. The footage is not great quality, but there are still several lessons that we can learn from the video.
- Situational awareness is crucial. The victim doesn’t seem to notice 5 men loitering in a street during a severe storm.
- Arm yourself. Even if the victim did notice the 5 attackers, with the numbers stacks so unevenly there was little an unarmed victim could have done. On the other hand, if the victim would have stopped and pulled out a handgun, things probably would have gone a lot differently. Then again, in a blue state the victim would probably have gone to prison for protecting themselves.
- Do not get tunnel vision. Likely the victim simply wanted to get home and out of the storm so they could get to safety, and likely the victim was only considering the threat of the storm just prior to the attack. Don’t allow yourself to get too focused on any one thing that you do not address other potential threats.
- Disasters interrupt law. During a disaster, while the rest of us are doing our best to make sure we and our families are safe, the usual criminal element of society is looking to become more active. They know that law enforcement will not be able to respond as quickly or as effectively as they usually do, this will embolden them to commit even more crimes. If you are bracing for a natural disaster in your area, remember to take this into consideration, because during, and after the disaster nature will not be your only threat.
This article, and others like it are not meant to shame or blame the victim. Everyone should be able to walk down the street with an umbrella, or ear buds in, without being attacked. But the reality is that we can’t do this sort of thing because of predatory scum that is always on the look out for another victim. Stay vigilant, and don’t let it be you.
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