Forum Topic

Woman mugged on Picadilly line train - rush hour

Is it just me who thinks that this 'front page' (Acton W3) story is awful.  A woman is robbed on a rush hour train, people intervene yet still the scumbags escape - with her phone????  Am also going to post on ChiswickW4 and EalingW5 as this is a serious debate........have we become a spineless and selfish society, I'm alright jack cowards or..........? thoughts please...?

Tanya Lee ● 5312d6 Comments

It sounds ghastly but I dont feel I know enough to comment.How much did people intervene?Did they stop it being worse?How did he get away if there was intervention?What about the chap with the robber...what's known about him?I suppose its news because, mercifully, robberies on the tube aren't that common (well pickpocketing etc might be but overt robbery with intimidation isnt)

Sara Nathan ● 5312d

I only know what has been reported...but imagine that the scumbag was ALLOWED to do as he pleased, after all the victim did hand over her phone.  I use capitals for ALLOWED as the phrase 'allow it' is rife among gangs and I guess they come to expect it.Depressing.

Tanya Lee ● 5312d

Alternatively - allowed to take phone but prevented by passengers - who obviously did intervene, albeit late and not wholly effective- from taking a valuable ring.It depends on where you focus: on the single event, on its rarity, on the intervention of passengers, on people being upset about it and not blase...

Sara Nathan ● 5312d

Do not believe the statistics.  Some people do not report them to the police and they are therefore not recorded.Attendance at self-defence classes (particularly for women) are a useful tool against avoiding such occurrences.

Dee Cook ● 5312d

I have done self defence classes years ago. The trouble is that you don't know whether the attacker has a knife. As so many people carry knives these days I would be reluctant to challenge any potential attacker. But I agree the incident sounds horrendous.

Chris Hurley ● 5312d

I was walking and talking on my mobile phone. A guy on a bike passed by and stole my phone from my hand. Considered chasing him, but as Chris said, you don’t know whether he has a knife or not, after all it’s just a mobile phone. I guess people around don’t intervene not because they are selfish or ignorant, but because they don’t want to risk their lives over a mobile phone.

Nena Krsteva ● 5307d