So I just got robbed at gunpoint......

[Firenzey]

I've lived in the northeast area for almost ten years now I grew up here I went to Wilson Middle school and then Northeast High school graduated with the 165th class of 2006. I shop in roosevelt plaza shoot I even learned to drive in the "toys r us" lot there to. I've always felt safe here this place is my jungle my playground. But in the last two years this area has undergone a descent into something that I dont even recognise, Im hearing about purse snatchers and break ins and store roberries.

For me things culminated earlier tonight at 8:30 PM when I was robbed at gunpoint in the driveway between walgreens and rutland street. Two young african american men ran up behind me one of them wielding a very loaded 38 speacial He leveled the gun at my head and told me to get down on my knees. I told him I would not kneel he went on to demand my back pack so i reached for the buckle and soon as I did he got real jumpy and jabbed the gun once again at my head. So very slowly i got the pack off and droped it to the ground. he then told me to empty my pockets and lie down flat. I declined both orders and told him to take the pack and go because i was not going to give him my wallet or lie down in the alley. His look out man grabbed the bag and they took off running towards large street and I just stood there stunned.

I dont know why Im really posting this I just feel like hearing from other people who live and work in this area. I just want to know what has gone wrong here why arent we safe anymore? I own firearms legally should i get a concealed carry permit and carry them? I hate to think that is the answer but my mind is spinning round and round here and im not sure what to think.

[The Count]

Sounds made up.

How'd you know the Americans were from Africa?

[luchobucho]

I'm not sure a gun would help you in that situation. Maybe it would, but it could also end up just escalating the situation. It sure.

As to why this happened? The neighborhood is changing. Decent people move out and are replaced by criminals and people who tolerate criminal activity. It certainly sucks.

[Hospitalitygirl]

The cretins wouldn't move in if the decent people stayed. That said, while there are some pockets of problems it's still an overall decent area. And crime happens everywhere.

Most important...did you call the police? A crime was committed and police should always be called. Police deployment is based upon crime reports and in order to have enough coverage you need to report this. It's a corollary that's a given. Also, there really aren't many neighborhood associations that I know of for Castor Gardens, but if you find one, go and make it clear that you're noticing this problem. Contact the community relations officer for the 2d police district.

[lemko]

I've lived in the northeast area for almost ten years now I grew up here I went to Wilson Middle school and then Northeast High school graduated with the 165th class of 2006. I shop in roosevelt plaza shoot I even learned to drive in the "toys r us" lot there to. I've always felt safe here this place is my jungle my playground. But in the last two years this area has undergone a descent into something that I dont even recognise, Im hearing about purse snatchers and break ins and store roberries.

For me things culminated earlier tonight at 8:30 PM when I was robbed at gunpoint in the driveway between walgreens and rutland street. Two young african american men ran up behind me one of them wielding a very loaded 38 speacial He leveled the gun at my head and told me to get down on my knees. I told him I would not kneel he went on to demand my back pack so i reached for the buckle and soon as I did he got real jumpy and jabbed the gun once again at my head. So very slowly i got the pack off and droped it to the ground. he then told me to empty my pockets and lie down flat. I declined both orders and told him to take the pack and go because i was not going to give him my wallet or lie down in the alley. His look out man grabbed the bag and they took off running towards large street and I just stood there stunned.

I dont know why Im really posting this I just feel like hearing from other people who live and work in this area. I just want to know what has gone wrong here why arent we safe anymore? I own firearms legally should i get a concealed carry permit and carry them? I hate to think that is the answer but my mind is spinning round and round here and im not sure what to think.

I lived not far from that area. I used to live in Oxford Circle until I moved out about 10 years ago. Fifteen years ago, that neighborhood was beautiful and I felt safe walking anywhere around there. I had a ladyfriend who lived near Knorr and Eastwood. She moved out in 2000 and I was angry with her being another one of those cowards who ran away to the suburbs. Fast forward, and it seems she made the right move. Castor Gardens has really plummeted from what it was a mere 10 years ago and Oxford Circle is now a trash-strewn, graffiti-scarred, bandit sign-blighted, drug and thug-infested wasteland safe for neither man nor beast.

I don't know what good a gun would've done for you in that situation. It seems they already had the drop on you. I'm surprised they didn't flip out when you refused some of their demands. As long as you're not a prohibited person, (i.e. felony convictions/mental disabilities) I'd suggest you purchase a firearm, get the proper training from a qualified instructor, and obtain your LTCF. I know a very good instructor I can recommend. To avoid ending up in the same situation, practice "situational awareness." One should always be at the same level of situational awareness as you are when you're driving. Observe everything and take it in and decide what to do next. Don't be distracted by texting or listening to your iPod. This is how criminals get the drop on unsuspecting victims.

[PhilaCap]

Sorry to hear it, hope you're ok. That area is fast becoming a toilet.

[FKD19124]

The cretins wouldn't move in if the decent people stayed.

easy for you to say.

[Hospitalitygirl]

easy for you to say.

Unlike you, I have not left the city.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Sorry to hear it, hope you're ok. That area is fast becoming a toilet.

It's not a toilet but thanks for perpetuating a scene which easily becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I guess no one's noticed this thread: http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...s-muggins.html

[NJbound]

We saw the writing on the wall years ago and moved away and never looked back. Its the best thing you can do for your families safety, not stay there and live like prisoners in your home, or to 'try and save the neighborhood' which is not gonna happen... Good luck.

[FKD19124]

no but where you live isn't all racially diverse either.

Unlike you, I have not left the city.

[PhilaCap]

It's not a toilet but thanks for perpetuating a scene which easily becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I guess no one's noticed this thread: http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...s-muggins.html

Sure it is. Face the reality. Those neighborhoods are becoming ghettos.

We saw the writing on the wall years ago and moved away and never looked back. Its the best thing you can do for your families safety, not stay there and live like prisoners in your home, or to 'try and save the neighborhood' which is not gonna happen... Good luck.

^^^this is reality.

[FKD19124]

Right because where you live now you see exactly what its like to live there now.
Gee....why did you move from the Northeast again????
I guess this person should just "suck it up" as stated to someone a few years ago in another thread.

It's not a toilet but thanks for perpetuating a scene which easily becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I guess no one's noticed this thread: http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...s-muggins.html

[NJbound]

honestly... ya always wonder if you make the right decision on such a thing as upping the family and moving but I can honestly say it was absolutely 100% the right decision. Everyone is happier in my family because of it and there is no 'second thoughts' on our decision. Staying and hoping the hood got better would have been a HUGE mistake

[FKD19124]

Everyone is happier in my family because of it and there is no 'second thoughts' on our decision. Staying and hoping the hood got better would have been a HUGE mistake

same here. Trying to convince my father to leave because its a matter of time before he gets robbed and/or worse.
hell even Timmy D's sandwich shop that was on cottman avenue across the mall just moved out to Cheltenham back in June

[Volanova]

I don't know what good a gun would've done for you in that situation. It seems they already had the drop on you. I'm surprised they didn't flip out when you refused some of their demands. As long as you're not a prohibited person, (i.e. felony convictions/mental disabilities) I'd suggest you purchase a firearm, get the proper training from a qualified instructor, and obtain your LTCF. I know a very good instructor I can recommend. To avoid ending up in the same situation, practice "situational awareness." One should always be at the same level of situational awareness as you are when you're driving. Observe everything and take it in and decide what to do next. Don't be distracted by texting or listening to your iPod. This is how criminals get the drop on unsuspecting victims.

This. As Lemko said, you may not have been helped by a concealed weapon in this case though. However, proper situational awareness when out, especially at night, will prevent that from happening. Thugs like this don't expect their targets to shoot back. But, if you're going to go that route, get trained properly, and practice as much as possible. Don't carry a firearm unless you're prepared, both mentally and physically, to use it. Drawing down on a bad guy and not being willing to pull the trigger if you must will just put you in a worse situation as before. When you shoot someone, there's a good chance they will be killed, and you have to be ready to live with that. Many people don't think this through. Unless you display very serious psychopathic tendencies, killing a person, even a bad guy, is probably not something your brain is going to process lightly. And don't expect to walk away from this without having a long talk with the police. Even if what you did was perfectly legal and justified, the Philadelphia PD is going to eye you very suspiciously, and it would be a good idea to get to know a lawyer you can contact if this happens.

[NJbound]

trying to get my in laws to move too but they won't. In fact they just got robbed of $12k they has in cash in their home(don't ask) and they still won't leave.

same here. Trying to convince my father to leave because its a matter of time before he gets robbed and/or worse.
hell even Timmy D's sandwich shop that was on cottman avenue across the mall just moved out to Cheltenham back in June

[Burholme06]

First of all this really sucks bad. I agree that the neighborhood is changing and not for the better but having lived in CC for over 5 years now, it’s clear to me why the NE mentality is the way it is. The rest of the city is still largely segregated but people mix on the street, on transit, and in stores. I see more racial AND economic diversity in my Rittenhouse neighborhood than I ever see in Rhawnhurst but many people up there just look out the window and say, “there goes the neighborhood”. You don’t have this huge barrier and divide between the NE and the rest of the City anymore and although it’s brought some negative change with it, it’s really no different than what any other section of the city has been dealing with for decades, even the very effluent ones in Center City. I’ve had to chase hookers and homeless people off my block. I’ve seen more than one drug deal on my corner. There have been a few sexual assaults/rape within 2 blocks of my house in the last 5 years. Can you imagine if some of these “doom and gloomers” ever saw this? I’m not saying that there aren’t problems but really, welcome to the reality of the bigger place that is called Philadelphia.

(I do understand that I lose quite a bit of standing with people from the NE as I live in CC now and also understand that the QOL problems in CC are infinitely more tolerable because they are offset by some really great things that we have down here. That benefit doesn’t exist in the NE so why deal with the problems – I get that. I just think it’s really overdone by many people I know in person as well as on this forum.)

Right because where you live now you see exactly what its like to live there now.

I believe that HG lives somewhere near South Street east of Broad and if so, that puts her at ground zero for the Flash Mobs and within a half mile of two different housing projects and several unsavory social services. Imagine that, FKFD19124!

[Mayfair]

Sorry to hear that it happened ... Did you report it?

In this situation I really think Mace would have been your best bet.



Get quality stuff though, not dollar store crap. You could have palmed it as you were taking your hands out of your pockets and then blasted him. Once he was sprayed, you would have had plenty of time to run.

[FKD19124]

when was the last time a flashmob happened in center city or how often do you hear about violent crime where she lives?
Also, I dont think she has school age children, and if she does they are in private school.

First of all this really sucks bad. I agree that the neighborhood is changing and not for the better but having lived in CC for over 5 years now, it’s clear to me why the NE mentality is the way it is. The rest of the city is still largely segregated but people mix on the street, on transit, and in stores. I see more racial AND economic diversity in my Rittenhouse neighborhood than I ever see in Rhawnhurst but many people up there just look out the window and say, “there goes the neighborhood”. You don’t have this huge barrier and divide between the NE and the rest of the City anymore and although it’s brought some negative change with it, it’s really no different than what any other section of the city has been dealing with for decades, even the very effluent ones in Center City. I’ve had to chase hookers and homeless people off my block. I’ve seen more than one drug deal on my corner. There have been a few sexual assaults/rape within 2 blocks of my house in the last 5 years. Can you imagine if some of these “doom and gloomers” ever saw this? I’m not saying that there aren’t problems but really, welcome to the reality of the bigger place that is called Philadelphia.

(I do understand that I lose quite a bit of standing with people from the NE as I live in CC now and also understand that the QOL problems in CC are infinitely more tolerable because they are offset by some really great things that we have down here. That benefit doesn’t exist in the NE so why deal with the problems – I get that. I just think it’s really overdone by many people I know in person as well as on this forum.)




I believe that HG lives somewhere near South Street east of Broad and if so, that puts her at ground zero for the Flash Mobs and within a half mile of two different housing projects and several unsavory social services. Imagine that, FKFD19124!