From the Lab Rat’s Desk – October 4, 2007

I was mugged last Thursday night and now I have to deal with needing all new identification, my bus,pas, the cash and other assorted bit sand pieces, and of course the bruises and bruised dignity. In other words I need a bit of time to lick my wounds. On top of it all my aquarium has sprung a (thank goodness slow) leak, but that too is having to be dealt with, and I can’t get to my bank account until the new card arrives sometime next week, and without the bus pass I need bus fare or find someone willing to run some errands for me.

I think my little shopping buggy too is damaged and needs replacing. What was amazing is that of the dozen eggs I just bought only three were broken.

What also really bothered me was that when it happened it was only 7:30 PM and there were people walking nearby, none of whom stopped to help, nor called the police. Some were couples, and I didn’t expect intervention or anyone to run and catch the guy, just to phone 911. I kept screaming, “please call 911, he took my purse, please someone help me” as I tried to recover myself from under my upturned buggy.

Finally a woman in the building opposite on the balcony called the police were there is no time at all. Other police cars came, even a police dog, unfortunately the guy and my purse were not to be found. The police suggested and ambulance, but that would mean having to pay about 60 dollars for the (universal health care) service and I told them I’d call a friend or my sister to take me. So they took me home, took my statement and left. My X took me to the hospital where they checked me over and other than being bruised and sore all was fine. I really yelled and my throat is sore but I am proud to say even my son heard me from more than a block away, he just didn’t know it was me.

Of course it would happen on a day I was already worn from having to be checked on by social services, that’s why I had all my ID with me and I had taken out some cash when gone to the bank to get a printout to show social services. He got that bit of cash. He must have spotted me in the grocery store and set me up, he knew exactly where and how my purse was tucked into the buggy. Isn’t that creepy, knowing someone watched you shop, choosing you as the victim?

I gave a pretty good description, but eyes are unreliable, and in so many ways he was pretty average, easy to blend in and it all happened so very very fast. It is humiliating being robbed, and I am not looking forward to my next trip to the store, which I will have to do. I have lived here and shopped there for over seven years, and I’ve not witnessed attacks like this in all that time. I suppose I should be grateful he didn’t beat me as well, I am not actually, but will admit it could have been worse, but it is no comfort to say it.

part 2—–

Still very stiff and bruised but getting better, I feel safe at home with the dog and my son at home, not eager to go out on my own though I did walk the dog twice.

After the mugging, I returned to the store where likely I had been eyeballed and targeted before being robbed. I thought I should speak to the manager since in all likelihood the cops hadn’t got round to it and I know most security tapes are only kept for a few days and then taped over. As it happens the store does have security cameras all over the store and the manager took down a full report. His security man will look through the tapes of that day and time and see if someone stands out of that description while I was in the store. He was glad I came by, it seems this has happened before and my description of the man was similar, but I came forward before the tapes were re-recorded on. Hopefully this means the man will be caught or at the very least the security will keep and eye out so it won’t happen again. After that I went across the street and got another aquarium tank, luckily I only lost one fish as a result of the leaky tank. My son was sweet enough to lend me the money. Thanks to the very nice store manager and the lady who owns it it feels again like my community and is less scary that if it were faceless. I haven’t been out after dark though, that may take longer.

The police were very nice, they brought me and my groceries home, took a full statement and urged me to go to hospital, first while I was still on the sidewalk, but I refused the ambulance, because frankly I didn’t want to be billed the 60 plus dollars of the ambulance charge, You’d think that wouldn’t be charged to the victim, but it is. I haven’t heard from the police. Later next week I will call or email and ask if anything is happening, if they found anything from my purse. I’ve been out once and I am spending more time being twitchy and looking over at everyone who remotely resembles him. He didn’t look like a drug addict, more likely it was a quick bit of cash and maybe also had to do with entry to a gang? There is a lot of gang related crime in Vancouver. There can’t be much of a living in it, picking on people just getting by, not like stealing diamond necklaces. All that risk of getting caught for what? Surely they’d earn as much putting that kind of effort into a real job?

Thanks all for your well wishes. Other than very stiff and bruised I came out of it relatively ok. It would have been worse if he’d used a weapon but the purse was the target, not me. I spent Friday phoning and getting new forms for citizenship card, bank card, social security, photo id, all of it. The bus pass should get here in a couple of weeks, a replacement is only 12 dollars, still worth it even if it’s good for only a month before the new one comes due. A new bank card is in the mail an the rest is going to take a bit longer. I plan on doing a lot more training with the dog so he can come with me to the store in the future.