Last night I got mugged on North 3rd Street, on the east side of the street halfway between N3rd & Ortlieb's. It was about 3am, I was walking with 3 friends but had taken a step back to answer my cellie. While less than 100 feet seperated, 2 young African American men walked up to me and pulled an automatic pistol on me. they took all my cash and cell phone. I was not harmed, but clearly spooked and of course did all the Police procedures. Thanks to the staff at N3rd who were calm under pressure.

There are a lot of little punkasses that are walking around OUR neighborhood and I just cross the street if I see them coming. Who cares if they think I am avoiding them. I am! That sucks Dan. What exactly did they say to you? Or did they just pull the gun and you knew what to do? I have never been mugged before.

What did the cops say and do?

Since I moved here in August, I have yet to see a police car in our neighborhood. You would think they would beef up security considering all the robberies that have occurred. What's the deal? Are we supposed to just accept that we might be mugged if we are walking around at night?

I saw a police officer patrolling second street at the corner of Brown two nights last week (Thursday and Friday) around 6:15 PM. So there has been some police presence. I'm not sure if this is a result of the robberies or not.....

I do see the police reg on 2nd street. It is norm the same officer walking up and down looking in the businesses. He double parked his car out front of 700 club. Maybe the problem is they need to patrol the rest of the street not just 2nd street.

" Are we supposed to just accept that we might be mugged if we are walking around at night? "

yes.

"northern liberties" may be the historical or trendy real estate name for this neighborhood, but please remember you're living in north philadelphia.

a major american city with an astronomical crime rate compared to bryn mawr or haddonfield.

basically the 2 youths stopped me, showed me the gun, and i answered their demands...asked for cash and cell phone. they had baseball hats covering their faces, and were built like average 16 year olds. nothing distinctive, but a reader of this board has emailed me that there is a security video of the mugging. i'll post once there are more developments.

http://www.hallwatch.org/faxbank/philadelphia


Fax city council and the mayor and tell them you want more cops. Let DiCicco and everyone else who represents NL know whats going on.

Before moving to Fishtown I lived in Northern Liberties and witnessed alot of muggings on 4th near Poplar. Police presence was a major complaint back then (2 years ago) and I'm surprised things haven't improved with all the new development. When I complained about things, I was told that its hard for the police to patrol that area because the dividing line between two police districts is right there.

Stephanie, I don't know why you would compare this neighborhood to Bryn Mawr or Haddonfield. I suppose that is where you think I am from since I just moved to "trendy Northern Liberties." I know that I live in North Philadelphia - I also lived in N. Philadelphia 2 years ago when I rented on 17th and Green. However, in that area there was a constant presence of police and many less robberies and muggings. Sorry if I don't want to simply accept that I probably will be held up at gun point because I live in North Philadelphia.

Jersey Dan actually lives in Philly and is a great guy. That really sucks man, it just goes to show... Condos don't scare away crime. F Condos.

"I also lived in N. Philadelphia 2 years ago when I rented on 17th and Green. However, in that area there was a constant presence of police and many less robberies and muggings. Sorry if I don't want to simply accept that I probably will be held up at gun point because I live in North Philadelphia." - LuLu

Could the fact that Vince Fumo lives there have any bearing on this? Also if anyone in NL really think you live in north philly, your wrong. NL dosent even compare. Crime happens, get used to it or get a gun and shoot the *******s.

Here are some screen shots of the incident from a security video.

It's tough to make out the details, but the video shows Jersey Dan's friends walk by. Then, less than 10 seconds behind them Jersey Dan veers to the side of the sidewalk as two African American men in hooded sweatshirts (hoods up) approach. One man appears to do most of the work while the other pulls a gun. Probably not enough to identify the criminals, but hopefully this will help to increase awareness:

Sorry this happened to you Dan, this is terrible.

And to make matters worse, this is the start of the major crime season in NoLibs. Like last year when cars, homes, and people were burglarized, beaten, and killed at will, this year it won't be any different. If the murder rate in Philly for 2006 so far is any indication of what's coming our way, it's going to get worse. My wife and I are going to move out of here, and eventually far away from Philadelphia because this city can't control crime in any part of the city.

Unfortunately, crime is rising everywhere, not just here, and even in the suburbs, where people think they're "safe."

The point is that this place is particularly bad, and there's a big difference between a stolen bike in Bryn Mawr and a robbery/shooting in NoLibs. You can't even compare the suburbs with center city. You don't see 15 yr old teens running around with handguns in Ardmore or Abington but you see it all over the place downtown. When a guy can get mugged just 50 yards behind his friends, there's a serious problem.

I work in Northern Liberties and I was wordering if the muggers were caught? I leave work around 8 and I don't want to feel scared to walk to my car. It's really a shame that such a nice area has to be surrounded by such bad ones. Hopefully within the next few years the whole area around Northern Libs will be built up and will be just as nice as it.

So this impending crime wave in NL...are the police just understaffed to deal with it? I don't understand why more isn't done. Also, why aren't we as NL residents doing more about it? Like organized patrols every night with scheduled shifts? There's no reason why things should get this out of control.

First, read this:
http://philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=11710

then, fax the people who "represent" NoLibs, and demand more cops, not the ****ty "more overtime" plan the Mayor proposes:
hallwatch.org/faxbank/philadelphia

Puff: Just out of curiosity, why do you still post here if you're done with NL? Maybe you're not so done with it? You're all-is-lost posts aren't exactly constructive, and you're not going to change anything or convince anyone else to move out because you're frustrated. Everyone's frustrated. But seriously, why don't you try to *do* something about problems instead of just complain?

- http://philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=11710

- http://www.hallwatch.org/faxbank/philadelphia

Dan , Sorry that this had happened to you ! I am a Realtor here in NL. And seriously I myself Love NL. And at one time I lived in Fishtown in which I equally Love. I just can't understand everyday , someone is victumized in NL. Town watch and local residence can only report these crimes. It is upto the Mayor and Police Commissioner to declare NL as as a Hot spot for crime. I wish you well !

Christine

This incident is over a year old.

Yes I noticed that after , it was on the TOP of the veiwing list today........But all week I have heard of Muggings at gun point in NL... I am trying to keep up on the crime stats in the area...I have two daughters , that live 2nd and Brown. They are in there 20's. As a Realtor I get the stats on New Construction , new stores etc. But as a mother I am looking for my own purposes. .My daughter where robbed at gun point four years ago in the Middle of the afternoon.
Anyway Thanks !!!!!!!!
Christine

This is nothing new in NL, it happens often, and usually more in the warmer months. I noticed that muggings wasn't mentioned in Jordan's 'NL is so wonderful' post the other day. Car break-ins and muggings are typical in NL all year but especially in the warmer months. Sure, you have it in other hoods, especially Farimount but it's more common in SW Philly and any areas that border N. Philly neighborhoods like Kenso and N. Broad. NL is a magnet because so many young people with money are moving in and they're prime targets for muggings. It's sad that is has to be like that and it doesn't help that the area is a split district for the police. I always thought that the cops should've redistricted to add a substation in NL.

Where is batman at when you need him?

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” -- Edmund Burke