I was robbed by a group of children :/

Submitted by ElFello93 t3_ytu1tz in baltimore

Tonight I was walking and there was a group of children walking in my direction.

I was passing them and even giving them a smile when suddenly one of them (the youngest) gave me a punch in the face. I was totally shocked and didn't realize what was going on.

My first thought was that it was a racist attack or something (I'm Mexican) because the stare of this kid was... full of hate.

Anyway, I was like WTF? Then I realized all of them were using ski masks, and blue jeans, like a little gang of 12-13 years old boys.

They wanted money, my phone, and whatever I have with me. I was totally confused because they were so little!

Anyway, I didn't know how to handle that. I just gave them my phone.

I don't know if this is common around here, and I don't know how to deal with a situation like that.

Any advice in case it happens again?

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Comments

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dopesolo t1_iw6l8tp wrote

Walk across the street. I'm not being condescending or victim blaming you, I promise. Walk across the street, don't be alone or if you are be extra cautious, be in well lit areas.

I say walk across the street because if they follow (and im talking about serious jaywalking, make it where you absolutely know for certain if someone is following you) , you'll know really quick their intentions. If they follow on a crazy jaywalk, if you can't make a scene (as in stopping a car that's driving, or going into an establishment), run to the closest place that is safer.

I've been robbed at gunpoint in 2 cities and neither were Baltimore, it's not just a Baltimore problem; it's a big city issue.

Take care of yourself and be more alert. It might still happen if you're more alert, but do your best to decrease your chances of it happening. I hope I didn't come off as crass, I am genuinely sorry that happened to you.

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EthanSayfo t1_iw882ae wrote

Sure, it's not just a Baltimore problem. And good advice, btw -- thank you for sharing. This kind of situational awareness is critical.

But can we get real for a moment, and acknowledge that Baltimore is one of the most violent cities in the United States? Baltimore's crime is not just like all other cities.

Statistics have consequences. Well over a murder a day on average, as an example.

I really think the people of this city have grown complacent, when it comes to the out-of-control crime issues in the city. No, we're not the only city with these problems, and many smaller communities are dangerous, too.

But seriously – look at Baltimore's crime rates. They are very, very high.

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw896ih wrote

It's #51, not even top 10. Lol

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_crime_rate

−47

macgyversstuntdouble t1_iw8evhr wrote

#51 when sorted by state alphabetical order. Lol. Come on. For real?

#2 murder.
#3 total violent crime.
#17 total property crime.

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rpd9803 t1_iw8i8v7 wrote

#40 in sexual assault, so at least we have that going for us.

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw8n2m6 wrote

A lot goes unreported here.

Also Baltimore City doesn't have a huge college age population or vacation business relative to other cities that rank highly for that.

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rpd9803 t1_iw8nuag wrote

When the data doesn’t agree with your reductive summary, claim that one part of the dataset is unreliable I guess.

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw8f5qu wrote

#Lmao

−5

jhopsecrets t1_iw8high wrote

Confused by your inability to sort a table but you do you my guy.

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw8i8jl wrote

Yes I have learned the err of my ways and realized that Baltimore is even safer than #51 when you sort by each crime, amazing!

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macgyversstuntdouble t1_iw8ftzp wrote

> If Baltimore were in the state of "Zmaryland", it would be #100 of the 100 most violent cities, when sorted by state name alphabetically.

"Lmao." - anyone who can read.

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw8fwu8 wrote

#You're just lying

https://www.thirdway.org/report/the-red-state-murder-problem

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macgyversstuntdouble t1_iw8goa2 wrote

I'm literally just sorting the Wikipedia list that you sourced. When Baltimore is "#51", it's because it is sorted by state name. Check out the Top Ten if you don't believe me.

That article has nothing to do with Baltimore and its crime rate. Congrats on bringing in unrelated information that I'm going to completely ignore, and instead I'm going up focus on your inability to read basic data tables.

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw8hrfy wrote

That's even better! #100 in aggravated assault, #100 in robbery, #61 in rape, #96 burglary... I feel even safer

−15

macgyversstuntdouble t1_iw8iny6 wrote

You know that you can sort two different ways? Low to high... High to low.

I've proven enough that you're not acting in good faith. Go home. Later.

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BeSmarter2022 t1_iw8b1nf wrote

Oh come on it it is consistently list as one of the most dangerous cities. Finding something on Wiki does not change it. Yes there is similar crime in every major city, but criminals were given a pass the the last 4 years. Hopefully Bates will stop that! Ready for the city to make a turnaround. There us so much wonderful in it.

https://www.gov1.com/public-safety/articles/the-fbis-10-most-dangerous-cities-by-region-b8bvKm2v4rP8Zynz/ #1 in the South

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2022/02/23/crime-in-america-study-reveals-the-10-most-dangerous-cities-its-not-where-you-think/?sh=3541f5397710 here it is #5

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/pictures/the-most-dangerous-cities-in-america/ #4

https://moneyinc.com/most-violent-cities-in-the-u-s-in-2022/ #3

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw8c5bb wrote

Yeah there's an abnormally high amount of murders, but those generally don't target random civilians. Some of those websites are using data from 2017 as well which is why those lists you posted are inconsistent. The person I replied to also said "crime," not "violent crime," which are different statistics.

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BeSmarter2022 t1_iw8gnbo wrote

I just pulled a bunch of studies but the fact is how they measure crime has as much to do with it, and that was my point. If you don’t view Baltimore as a violent city, you will be the next victim.

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Bitsycat11 t1_iw8grmd wrote

Of course it's a violent city, just like any other city on Earth.

Those aren't studies, those are lists on business websites.

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DetainTheFranzia t1_iw73gu8 wrote

At nighttime, I don't trust anyone in this city. I'm always on alert when I walk by someone. Even during the day I don't let myself get too oblivious to my surroundings. I certainly don't smile at strangers. It's just the unfortunate necessity in a city like this. You did the right thing giving them your phone.

By the way, nobody has said this, but just take care of yourself this week. Traumatic experiences like that have a way of seeping deep into your body and even if you don't feel like you're in shock or are traumatized, you might have already internalized a lot of stress. Just go easy this week, don't put too much pressure on yourself to be your best self. Give yourself time to heal.

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myhatwhatapicnic t1_iw7zsmk wrote

I'll take every precaution necessary to stay safe, but I'm not going to stop smiling at strangers.

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JohnBarleyCorn2 t1_iw7v7nd wrote

best advice you can give right here.

Stand straight, Walk confidently, keep your head on a swivel. Be 100 percent aware of your surroundings at all time. Make eye contact with people. Don't look at your phone while walking.

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Velghast t1_iw88p06 wrote

Yup, If you look like your not to be fucked with, you wont be fucked with. 90% of the time.

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EthanSayfo t1_iw87ibu wrote

I don't walk around after dark by myself, period. I know of way too many horror stories, including someone I know who was shot and almost killed (and this was a bit before street crime started getting much worse).

I'm a middle-aged man who lives in a better-than-average (crime-wise) area in the city, for what it's worth.

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Aj_lilroc t1_iw6h310 wrote

I'll give you ah story that happened to me. My job requires me to carry a gun and I have a permit to carry. My car broke down so I had to catch the bus home. Two teens approached me with a knife and tried to rob me. I'm in uniform gun permit attached to my shirt, empty holster on my belt and my gun in my gun bag over my chest, with the words Smith and Western across the bag. I had a .40 Smith and Western semi-auto loaded with two extra clips on the side pocket. I didn't say anything to the kids because I thought it was obvious that I wasn't the guy to fuck with but it took this two three bus stops of me saying this ain't what you want, and you really need to think about this before this gets ugly, for them to understand the dynamic of their situation. I saw the realization in their eyes and they ran off the bus.

All of that to say kids are dumb and when you raise kids in a harsh environment you get shit like that, and what happened to you. My advice is to stay away from them if you see them don't worry about if you offend anybody worry about your safety first

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Apprehensive_Neat418 t1_iw6nmly wrote

They probably couldn't read the smith & Wesson logo. Baltimore is the city that bleeds not reads.

Source: used to teach first grade in west Baltimore

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ImNotAHeroIQuit t1_iw72zwa wrote

Clearly…….. “used to teach first grade in west Baltimore” 🤔

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guest0112 t1_iw75sct wrote

Please quit

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ImNotAHeroIQuit t1_iw7joav wrote

Someone take shots at the education system you say nothing….. It blows me away who people choose to call out. Too much corn syrup!

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notworkingghost t1_iw6wfzn wrote

Ugh, this sucks, sorry. I’ve had this happen to me when I lived and worked in Philly. It’s awful and messes with you in a weird way. You did the right thing. Some of these kids are just wild and you truly risk your life if you don’t just try to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. Give yourself some time to process this, and you will feel better. I know it sucks right now, but you did nothing wrong.

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NewrytStarcommander t1_iw6x0je wrote

They have guns and knives- always do what they say- even if they don't, there's a lot more of them than you. Always avoid groups of kids- don't run but try to change directions, get somewhere around people. These are the scariest predators in the city because they have absolutely no understanding of consequences (which are insignificant for children) and so will act unpredictably.

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lgmringo t1_iw76p0a wrote

They're also scary because you're limited in your ability to fight back or fight it off. I've had groups of young boys say filthy things to me, abcs it always makes me really uncomfortable. Not just because of the sexual harassment itself, but what am I going to do? An adult white woman calling the cops on or chastising a group of Black boys? That's not a great idea... so you just end up letting them say whatever.

It's relevant bc while it's not violent per se, it normalizes invading boundaries and dehumanization.

People think I'm nuts, but groups of preteen and teen boys make me so uncomfortable.

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JohnBarleyCorn2 t1_iw7vmm9 wrote

> An adult white woman calling the cops on or chastising a group of Black boys? That's not a great idea... so you just end up letting them say whatever.

Jesus christ...they've really done a number on you. Why would you think this way? You are a human, not a sub-human lower caste. Your melanin content is irrelevant. You don't EVER have to put up with that shit. The fact people are upvoting you...what have we been reduced to? Good lord.

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aliyoh t1_iw81r13 wrote

Hmm I wonder… police… young black men… is there any reason why someone may be worried that interaction could go south…?

Like, I’m also a white woman and I agree with the previous commenter. I’m going to always hesitate to call the police, especially on young black men, when we know that someone could end up being killed. Yeah, street harassment is terrible and makes women feel unsafe. But even if the risk is small, I don’t want to be the reason someone ends up dead for a situation I can get out of on my own. And I’m mostly talking about petty things, like street harassment, vandalism, noise complaints, things that aren’t life or death. There are absolutely situations where I would call the police, but I think it’s A Good Thing Actually for white people to think for a couple seconds about the ramifications it can have on others before doing so.

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JohnBarleyCorn2 t1_iw826p6 wrote

No. Just stop. You don't have to put up with sexual harassment from anybody. Its not ok. If someone is harassing you, then they need to be stopped.

> A Good Thing Actually for white people

to be able to walk down the street without being made to feel violated and unsafe.

You are wrong and I hope you gain the confidence to love yourself enough to not let ANYone do this to you, regardless of what color they are.

As the father of young daughters, it makes me so..so sad to see that young women would rather suffer harassment than report a crime. I hope I'm able to instill enough self-confidence and self-respect in my daughters that they would never take this fatalistic, nihilistic view of themselves.

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onlythehappiests t1_iw8ahqi wrote

This is not a self-esteem issue. It’s not that women would rather suffer harassment than report a crime because we feel like we don’t deserve to not be hassled. It’s that in this world/city that we live in today, there’s a very real possibility that calling the cops on black men or boys may result in someone dying and won’t solve the problem anyway.

I agree that it’s sad and awful and not at all okay, but unfortunately these are the things that people weigh. I think there is plenty of evidence that law enforcement isn’t firing on all cylinders here. And I think you know that and I don’t really get why women are being downvoted for acknowledging this problem.

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw85lk0 wrote

Young daughters, you say? You'll love Bel Air or Ellicott City. Don't let your kids grow up around violence

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YesIDoBlowCops t1_iw7t1vl wrote

You are really drinking the kool aid if you are hesitating to call the police or take action because of race. You are the adult in the situation and it is incumbent upon you to address the problem.

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw7v84b wrote

Yes but its Baltimore and even if the kids are caught, there won't be any consequence

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[deleted] t1_iw7j3iw wrote

> An adult white woman calling the cops on or chastising a group of Black boys? That's not a great idea

why not?

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw7v1y0 wrote

She isnt white, she's Latina (mexican)

Said so in the original post

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EthanSayfo t1_iw8bel7 wrote

Can we all realize already that nationality and ethnic group in many parts of the world are not the same thing.

There are people in Mexico who are indigenous, and there are people in Mexico who are basically European.

The Americas are very large, and every single part of them from Canada and Alaska down to Chile and Argentina has this dynamic in play.

Let people pick their own ethnic (and other) labels.

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw8nceu wrote

She specifically said she's Latina.

−1

EthanSayfo t1_iw8s1yn wrote

I know.

You seem to not realize that many people, including many Latinos/Latinas, consider this to be "white" by 2022 standards.

You know that Italians and Irish used to not be considered white?

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opxdo t1_iw693mq wrote

The kids are the ones you gotta look out for. It's not this generation is so bad or w.e. w.e. they are kids. They are reckless children in a very violent city. I'm also not saying it's right. But it is what it is. Glad your alright

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opxdo t1_iw698tb wrote

Btw growing up I was always told everyone gets jumped or robbed at some point like a right of passage. It wasn't until I moved and told other people that they were like wtf no. Lol

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laszlo t1_iw77690 wrote

I lived in parts of DC and Baltimore that people would describe as on the edge at least. Never got jumped and robbed until I moved to a nicer neighborhood -- Mt Washington. That was within a month of moving there. Coincidental, I know, but still kinda funny.

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FriedScrapple t1_iw7c00f wrote

I’ve lived here for 40 years and it’s never happened. I have had some close calls though.

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Clickv t1_iw7hmfg wrote

Definitely watch out for young kids. Those immature brains can be truly dangerous, especially in large groups.

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XooDumbLuckooX t1_iw7whpf wrote

Violent children in Baltimore has been a story since before I was even alive. Here's a great essay from 1986 detailing how violent and unpredictable Baltimore children can be:

https://barrymichaelc.medium.com/before-the-wire-in-cold-blood-the-baltimore-teen-murders-ffa89f47f2b1

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EthanSayfo t1_iw8d1xu wrote

The thing is, it was getting better for a while, at least in the right direction, and then it went totally back to as if literally no progress had been made for decades.

I think it's reasonable to comment on, maybe even lament over.

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[deleted] t1_iw6axo5 wrote

[deleted]

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Psychological_Try559 t1_iw7mxr2 wrote

Sorry that happened to you, and glad that you're alive!

Regarding the phone, even if GPS is not enabled, Google has a "find my device" page at: https://www.google.com/android/find

It can remotely wipe your device as well as find it.

I can't speak to iphones as I don't personally use them but I'm sure they have something similar.

Obviously go through the police rather than trying to do this yourself.

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wbruce098 t1_iw7p6se wrote

Yes, iPhone has basically the same thing, and it’s pretty easy to do. It won’t get your phone back but it’ll save your data and make it slightly harder for those punks to make money off the phone.

OP, sorry about your situation! That’s terrible 😔

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Psychological_Try559 t1_iw7pcik wrote

I figured, just didn't wanna say for sure since I wasn't certain!

Does the iphone version not have a way to track your phone?

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wbruce098 t1_iw7po8e wrote

Oh yeah you can definitely track the phone, have it make noises, reset/wipe etc., so long as the battery has power.

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iscott55 t1_iw6ubui wrote

I got a gun pulled on me on Walker Avenue by a 14 year old

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JohnBarleyCorn2 t1_iw7v2ve wrote

Baltimore people don't play and haven't for a long time. I got a gun pulled on me for having a window down north of JH campus. Ran a red light to get away.

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huckleberryrose t1_iw7xy38 wrote

Wtf

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JohnBarleyCorn2 t1_iw7y7ph wrote

yeah it was honestly stupid for me to have my window open there and not a good place for me to be, but I wasn't very familiar with Baltimore yet and I was young. That said, it wasn't my fault, but I wouldn't go there or be in that situation again. Farthest I go into Bmore these days is Northern Pkwy exit off of 81.

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huckleberryrose t1_iw803e6 wrote

I'm sorry that happened to you. That sucks :(

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JohnBarleyCorn2 t1_iw80ieq wrote

Indeed...there was a pretty intense sense of violation, for some reason. As a guy, being made to feel powerless is not a fun experience.

That said, it would never happen to me again - mainly because I know and respect the city now. Respect in a "knowing its dangerous" and "where a white dude shouldn't travel" sort of way.

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huckleberryrose t1_iw820xk wrote

Yeah we pretty much stick to the white L and don't really go out much a night, especially alone.

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Ipeteverydogisee t1_iw6sux5 wrote

OP, I’m so sorry this happened. Something about you smiling at them, like you were seeing them as 12 and 13 year olds, not as potential criminals, is the part that gets me because I do this too. It just sucks, I’m so glad you are ok, and I’ll be remembering the crazy jay walk/do they follow advice on this thread. Hugs. Baltimore can be better than this.

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BeSmarter2022 t1_iw690pn wrote

Wow so sorry this happened to you. I hate to say it is not totally unusual in Baltimore. You would be surprised at how violent and how young we see come through the system in Baltimore.

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dopesolo t1_iw6liqk wrote

"I hate to say it is not totally unusual in [Insert any major city]"

−29

sxswnxnw t1_iw6yhxy wrote

Lol you're being down voted, but this is the real.

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DannyNels t1_iw719i0 wrote

What neighborhood was this, if you don’t mind me asking? I had a friend who used to live near highlandtown, and the same thing happened to him a few years ago. He got real beat up, split jaw and everything. I’m sorry to hear it’s still happening and glad you’re not seriously hurt

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acurrell t1_iw6w042 wrote

They are no longer "kids" when they are armed, in a group, and more than likely inebriated. They are no longer kids when they are acting with premeditated intentions. That age group is probably the most reckless and therefore most randomly violent faction in the city. That age group murdered my roommate, physically disabled another friend, beat the crap out of and robbed another friend by knocking him off his bike, which they stole, robbed me at gun point and frequently targeted places I worked, and bars I hung out at.

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DfcukinLite t1_iw72ues wrote

Yeah no. They’re very much still kids. That’s the part you need to keep in mind because children are irrational.

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DiscoDeadhead t1_iw66gyd wrote

I’m so sorry this happened! Did you call the police?

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ElFello93 OP t1_iw67n1k wrote

Yeah, I did, and then they came and asked for the details of everything. They said someone else was assaulted the same way in the area.

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Similar_Coyote1104 t1_iw6aydy wrote

There was a police officer in fells point that used to rob immigrants all the time and tell them he’d put INS on them if they said anything. He got away with it for two years, til he tried it on a US citizen that just looked like an immigrant.

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Jrbobfishman t1_iw6rpu2 wrote

Are you talking about the case of officer Dorian Martin In 1999? If so, that’s not an accurate description of what happened

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inthesinbin t1_iw6wr1y wrote

Serious question for OP. Did you not notice it was a gang of kids in ski masks when you smiled at them?

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Ambitious-Intern-928 t1_iw7glnd wrote

The thing of it is ALL the kids are in ski masks now. Can't even walk into a gas station without walking past a bunch of teens/young men in ski masks now. It's crazy, this was never ALLOWED before the pandemic for people to hang in public places especially places that carry money with face coverings.

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laurenlcd t1_iw741hs wrote

>a group of children...
>
>I was passing them

Rule 1: If you see a group of kids - especially boys - you don't stay on the same sidewalk with them. Jaywalk or go into a store and pretend to look for something to buy (or just go into an open building if you can). There is safety in witnesses.

These kids know they can commit crimes, be out all hours of the day and night, and they will receive no consequences - not by the justice system, not by their parent, not by anyone. You did the right thing by not putting up any resistance. Always assume that these kids - no matter their age - are armed. Did you not hear about the guy killed by the 14yo squeegee kid?

Rule 2: Unfortunately, you can't just take a leisurely night time stroll, even if you live in the county. If you were getting off work when this occurred, start taking a Lyft or Uber home. If you just wanted to get some exercise, invest in creating a home gym (stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical, whatever you can fit inside your space). I wouldn't walk at night unless I had a dog who needed to go potty and no backyard to do it in.

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw7wk35 wrote

This is true for almost all of Baltimore County now as well, at least until you get above Towson area. Tons of youngans in the Cockeysville,Timonium, and Owings Mills areas, etc.

Im aware of a bunch of kids that were robbing and looting in the Perry Hall area and the explanation from the county was that these kids are "helping provide for their families and gave into pressure to make quick money". They were not prosecuted and the school system put them in an optional mentoring program

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paturnpike t1_iw6bhft wrote

My advice is to treat them the age they are acting and do what you have to do!

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Quantius t1_iw6w3wh wrote

This is a great way to get yourself shot.

Next time, OP, don't assume it's a group of well-meaning young kids. Go in another direction and avoid them.

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ardhanarisvara t1_iw76ama wrote

Sighs, as someone this has also happened to (not in Baltimore but in a really nice neighborhood in Berkeley, California) the primary lesson I drew was to never assume a group of young boys is unthreatening. Clockwork Orange was a cautionary tale, as far as I'm concerned, and 2+ boys is enough to freak me out now. As soon as I see a group approaching, I cross the street and start scanning for the nearest place I can duck into should they follow. Whenever possible I don't carry valuables while walking, but, I do try to be sure to carry cash so I don't piss them off and get shot, raped, or otherwise injured out of boredom, anger, or malice. When I was robbed at gunpoint by 15 year olds I had nothing on me and they seemed insulted by that. Carrying a 20 in an empty pocket is now a kind of reflex - better to have something to hand over than my life, just in case.

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smushedtoast t1_iw7tibv wrote

In 2016 I got slashed in the hand with a pocketknife by a 16yo girl trying to steal my phone. Other Baltimore friends of mine who have been mugged were mugged by kids. If there’s a pack of kids you don’t know, avoid them

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[deleted] t1_iw731n1 wrote

[deleted]

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Illustrious_Listen_6 t1_iw7ilcc wrote

I agree. It’s also why I keep my a few car lengths when it comes to squeegee youths. Scary. Makes this city look extremely bad.

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[deleted] t1_iw8ey5j wrote

[deleted]

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Illustrious_Listen_6 t1_iw8iws6 wrote

I should start avoiding those intersections as well. I feel bad for tourist. People who visit the city and have to encounter that.

Flat out embarrassing.

4

hawkbit92 t1_iw7aze3 wrote

Yeah, one day back over the summer, my husband and I were out to lunch in fells point. We were sitting outside and there was a group of kids(5-6 of them) that just decided to come and use up two other tables. The hostess asked them to leave, but they just laughed at her and they continued to yell profanities. She looked so defeated. My husband ending up asking them politely to just respect the other diners while they were there, but instead of just saying sorry, they started yelling and screaming at us, and started to gang up on us and sit down with us. I remember one kid staring me down about to jump me until he saw my dog was sitting with us. He just said, "oh they got a dog y'all..." as if THAT was the only thing that stopped them from going any further with us.

It's honestly just sad. They were young. The eldest not even 15 by the looks of it. They ended up leaving, but we stayed at the table for a while waiting for them to be out of site just incase they decided to jump us later. They didn't, but it's depressing that I, a grown adult, had to even be wary of them later as we walked back to out car.

I'm sorry this happened to you, OP. I hope you are able to get help with the possible PSTD you may have. Please be safe out there.

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tacocollector2 t1_iw7uehg wrote

I lived in Fells for a couple years before the pandemic and moved out like 6 months into it (move was unrelated to what I’m about to say). In those 6 months, Fells changed A LOT. It got a lot more dangerous as a whole new crowd from other areas started showing up while the Fells residents were quarantined.

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call_me_ping t1_iw7xkxo wrote

>"oh they got a dog y'all..."

[Disclaimer: I would never encourage ANYONE to feign that their pet could be aggressive, cause no matter the situation, in most, the dog will be held at fault in the end]

It isn't uncommon for people from different communities to associate dogs with guard/attack dogs. Many friends and acquaintances that grew up rough or in underserved areas are wary of any dog cause most pets in their neighborhoods were used as defense weapons.

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sxswnxnw t1_iw6sq35 wrote

This reminds me of Slumdog Millionaire or Hostel.

I'm sorry this happened to you. Ngl I treat every person approaching me at night that I don't know as a suspect.

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Avocadofarmer32 t1_iw6wasv wrote

That’s actually what my coworker said to do. He’s a ccw fire arms trainer. He said always trust your gut and walk across the street if you feel uncomfortable.

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sxswnxnw t1_iw6y0y7 wrote

I believe everyone is a suspect because people I have trusted in my life have violated my trust and because I have been stalked. Point blank. I didn't learn this in any course, concealed carry or otherwise.

Paranoid people like me shouldn't have guns at the ready, we would just end up with a bunch of dead people and me in prison, honestly.

Hypervigilance is not a state anyone actually wants to be in, believe me.

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Burnsie92 t1_iw74z0j wrote

Sorry for your luck man. Welcome to Baltimore.

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Illustrious_Listen_6 t1_iw7i309 wrote

I’m seriously wondering, will this city ever get better?

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw7vot4 wrote

You don't think the "Squeegee Collective" (TM) and Mayor saying "we gotta do better yall" are going to work?

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Illustrious_Listen_6 t1_iw81om3 wrote

No. It’s just wishful thinking/quieting the noise. We just need a leader who’s bold, with common sense.

3

Burnsie92 t1_iw8na6e wrote

No it won’t. It will only get worse. With the politicians only lining their pockets. (Literally) and all the activists that want to defund the police making it harder for police to work it won’t. I was in the national guard during the Baltimore riots and let me tell you. We had to loan our riot gear to the police department and they police department really got treated badly by both the citizens and the government. Now they don’t really want to do much. The only thing that has done any good for the city is the developers building condos and apartments and pushing the lower class out of the city. At least some parts are better now.

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theythemworld t1_iw7gl50 wrote

The kids in Baltimore are dangerous. Social media always talks about how the kids here are the future and brilliant. No, these are the kids. The ones beating and robbing you. They have no moral compass and will shoot you dead for a $5 bill. Thank god the new Mayor will be paying them taxpayer money to not assault people! That’ll work!!

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blipsterrr t1_iw7fr79 wrote

Had a similar situation years ago taking the light rail at night. Group of kids wanted my phone. Got off at the next stop to avoid them but they followed. Walking away and one of em hits me in the back of the head. I turn around thinking I'm about to fight but I'm too shocked cause it's a teenage girl!

Or so I thought. "I'm not fighting a little girl" I told em. Got punched in the face...guess I had misgendered them. I start running towards a MTA car I saw in the distance, they notice and fall back.

Wish I fought back instead of running cause it made me paranoid for a long time. But in hindsight I don't know what concealed weapons they may or may not have had.

My advice: you see a group of ANY kind walking towards you at night, nope the fuck into another direction.

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TrippyHomie t1_iw67c7o wrote

Smack the kid into next week and watch his friends run.

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librarysquarian t1_iw6tb0v wrote

I really wouldn’t suggest that - I don’t have a link to the news story but there was a situation a few years ago here where some really young kids beat a guy up really violently. Enough 12 year olds together and it doesn’t matter how young they are if they’re intent on hurting you.

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YesIDoBlowCops t1_iw6zoit wrote

There are examples of groups of kids killing people. I am thinking particularly of a biker who was stabbed in waverly a few years ago. They said the youngest(12 or so) did the stabbing because he would get the most lenient sentence.

Avoid roving packs of adolescents in Baltimore, it could save your life. I personally have multiple friends/relatives who have been mugged/punched by such groups.

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fredblockburn t1_iw70k4f wrote

Was it the city health dept worker during lunchtime near power plant?

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[deleted] t1_iw68vgz wrote

[deleted]

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TrippyHomie t1_iw69vxz wrote

Kids trying to rob people. Smack the shit out of this 12 y/o.

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chunkydunkerskin t1_iw73fy6 wrote

Nah. I’ve been robbed by teens at gunpoint and been robbed by adults at gunpoint. The kids are way scarier, they don’t always understand the consequences of their actions… and comparing both robberies, the kids were way less controlled and more aggressive.

3

thriller24 t1_iw758pg wrote

Sounds like the ground of kids that have been carjacking people at gunpoint.

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neverinamillionyr t1_iw7sl5e wrote

There’s more than one group of kids doing that. My ex’s relative got carjacked by a group of 4 kids 8 and 9 years old. All had guns.

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BJJBean t1_iw7je7t wrote

Few tips that have kept me safe in Baltimore.

  1. Don't go out once the sun goes down. Get a new hobby like hiking, kayaking, etc. Something that happens when the sun is up.
  2. If you can't obey rule 1, keep your head on a swivel at night. Attention buys you time and time buys you options. It's 2022, if you see a large group of people, especially young people, wearing masks, that is a HUGE red flag. Make sure your paths do not cross.
  3. Get a force multiplier. Pepper Spray, concealed carry, etc.
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Illustrious_Listen_6 t1_iw7jlpq wrote

Seriously thinking about moving when I hear about stuff like this.

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nashvillehater2 t1_iw7869l wrote

About 5 years ago, my cousin who was in his early twenties was working concession at Camden yards. He was walking home, just a few blocks from the stadium if I remember. He was robbed at gun point by like 3 12 year old boys. They took his wallet, phone, car keys, everything.

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Pepsi12367 t1_iw729wa wrote

Fuck them kids! Your safety is paramount. These situations can easily be life or death

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FLeiXiuS t1_iw8m2ku wrote

Get a gun, start shooting. Fuck them.

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BrassUnion t1_iw7159e wrote

This is very unfortunate and I'm sorry for your experience. It is a very common tactic in places with extreme poverty. I've seen it (or rather been made aware of it) under various names in developing countries. For example, in Cote D'Ivoire they're called "les microbes." Always on the "things to be aware of" at embassy security briefs. The general advice from the guys who know best is if you find yourself targeted and can't get away, just let them have what they want (cell phone, wallet, etc.). It sucks, but it's the safest way to avoid serious injuries. The professional advice for avoiding this is usually go in groups, avoid areas where you're likely to be a target, be extra cautious at night.

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Dr_ChimRichalds t1_iw74kp1 wrote

So sorry this happened to you, and very glad to hear you're OK. Sucks that we can't let our guards down.

Do you mind if I ask where this was?

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RL_Mutt t1_iw8azv6 wrote

Get some pepper spray and remind yourself that the only thing worse than one teenager is multiple teenagers. White, black, male, female, it doesn’t matter.

Many people have asked, and I wonder too, where did this happen?

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smiceli1978 t1_iw8ncom wrote

Baltimore is not safe. Just move out to the burbs. Let the criminals rob each other.

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LongjumpingShot t1_iw6wxso wrote

I saw a group of 12ish year olds harassing (pushing and pulling hair) of small group girls. After watching it a minute and seeing it wasn’t self resolving. I walked up to the group.

The young girls found this as their chance to escape. I asked if they were ok. They said yes and thanked me for intervening.

I approached them. Asked them why they pulling her hair and told him to respect women. He lied and said he wasn’t doing anything and proceeded to follow the girls. One of the boys tried to convince the boys to go away from the trouble. But he was over ruled and followed after the boys looking for trouble.

I circled the block to see if the girls were safe but kind of lost them.

My girlfriend asked why I brought a weapon they were a bunch of middle schoolers. These are aggressive boys and they were going to take this lecture in treating people and I was going to walk away unscathed is why I took a weapon.

But if you didn’t have any protection and out numbered, you did the right thing. Give them your phone.

Track the phone and find then later. Try to find someone who will let you call the police and log into your phone finder. Do it quickly before they turn it off. If they turn it off immediately set up notification so you’re alerted when it’s back online and then reach officers to investigate the location.

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TalkShowHost99 t1_iw8hw8p wrote

Jeez I’m so sorry. It’s gotten so out of control in this city & no one should be acting like that regardless of their age! Report it even though BPD is unlikely to do anything about it.

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Appropriate-Lab-5015 t1_iw8pq1a wrote

BPD might catch the kids, heck they probably would know who it is because it's not likely their first time. However, it's not going to result in any real consequences for the youth.

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MrBurittoThePizza t1_iw6xwag wrote

This Baltimore, they prolly was in ya ass as soon as you smiled. Did they have weapons?

3

PigtownFoo t1_iw74jsp wrote

Kindness and politeness are signs of weakness in this town

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eyesabovewater t1_iw7qezr wrote

Well...don't get close enuff they can punch you. And u really did the best thing. Younger have zero reguard for human life. I'm glad you walked away.

3

TheDelig t1_iw825ds wrote

What part of the city did this happen in?

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EthanSayfo t1_iw871i1 wrote

Yeah, it's pretty common. Certainly I've heard similar stories a number of times, in media, online, and from friends, over the past few years.

Where was this, if I may ask? Generally, like which neighborhood? And what time of day?

Sorry to hear this happened to you.

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jhopsecrets t1_iw8gyd7 wrote

Carry a knife for last resort, and start running next time.

2

archenemy_43 t1_iw78mxr wrote

As unemployment goes up, so does crime.

Protect yourself people.

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[deleted] t1_iw6malf wrote

[removed]

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danhalka t1_iw6t194 wrote

Ignore this fresh account pushing incredibly bad advice.

7