What can u do to lessen chance of getting slashed on subway?

amother

Bronze

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:07 pm

Other than davening, what can u do to lessen chance of getting slashed on NYC subways? This is very frightening, happening way more often than ever before, in NYC.

loveandpeace

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:09 pm

Walk with confidence. And talk to yourself that Hashem is with you and nobody can do anything to help or harm you other than Hashem who has total control over everything.

amother

Bronze

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:21 pm

pesek zman wrote:

Did I miss something? When did this happen on a NYC subway?

Lucky you, that you havent been listening to the news. There have been a few in the past 2 months, the most recent one on a "D" train.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new.....08315

She said the attacker got up and pretended to stumble into her before grabbing her face with both hands, cutting her with a blade and running off.

“I didn't even realize he was cutting me," Rivera, who lives in Borough Park, told the Daily News. “It didn’t hurt because he didn’t hit any nerves. I didn’t even realize until the guy told me, ‘Hey you’re bleeding.’”

Rivera said she took out a paper towel and touched her cheek, which was covered in blood.

Police said the number of stabbings and slashings this year has jumped 14.7% — 273 incidents since Jan. 1 through this past Sunday. That’s compared with 238 incidents that took place during the same period in 2015.

nywife

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:24 pm

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Stand/sit against a wall instead of having your back turned to everyone. Also, carry pepper spray or the like.

Last edited by nywife on Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

chocolate chips

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:24 pm

Such a scary thing. I always hated the subway but now I am just petrified to ride on them.

Be aware - don't use your cellphone, don't be distracted, just be aware. But even then, from the description above, there was nothing she could have done to prevent it.
Perhaps practice some karate to kick an attacker in the appropriate place.

gp2.0

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 1:58 pm

This is really terrible. That poor woman. But there's no need to freak out any more than usual. It sounds worse than it is.

273 attacks in the last three weeks alone. That means statistically from combining last year and this year, there are approximately 85 slashings and stabbings per week, I'm assuming throughout the entire NYC because it doesn't specify.

There are about 8.5 million people in NYC. Every week, 85 of those 8.5 million are stabbed or slashed. That puts the odds of an individual getting stabbed or slashed at .0001%

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Math isn't my strong suit.

When you consider that most attacks are among people who know each other, the statistics drop even more.

Basically, it's always good to be alert and daven. But this isn't a cause for panic - I suspect it only made the news (as opposed to the other 250+ that didn't make the news) because it was so random, unprovoked and seemingly for no reason at all.

amother

Slateblue

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 2:25 pm

nywife wrote:

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Stand/sit against a wall instead of having your back turned to everyone. Also, carry pepper spray or the like.

Actually, after I got mugged in NYC (public transportation) I filed a police report. The police said pepper spray, mace, switchblades etc are ALL illegal and if caught you can get in big trouble. What was I to do? I was told take self defense. Been there, done that. Didn't help.
Slashers, muggers and other criminals don't care about breaking the law by carrying these things. But I can't protect myself. By law.
Idiocy.

FranticFrummie

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 2:29 pm

amother wrote:

There's no law against Krav Maga. Also, everyone should read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBecker. His book changed my life, and probably saved it more than once.

MagentaYenta

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 2:41 pm

amother wrote:

Of course you can still protect yourself, you just can't use an illegal weapon. Call the Y and start taking some self defense courses. And by all means read The Gift of Fear as FF advised.

amother

Slateblue

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 6:09 pm

Ok. I did say I took self defense courses. I also know Kung fu. But it doesn't help when you are outnumbered, they are much bigger, and they are prepared. You are caught off guard, they have an edge. Still got mugged. During daylight.
It's crazy I can't carry pepper spray. They are breaking the law anyways so they don't care what other laws break. so why is it illegal for me to protect myself?

dancingqueen

Tue, Jan 26 2016, 6:27 pm

amother wrote:

Afaik you can carry certain kinds of pepper spray in nyc. I'm so sorry you were mugged though that's awful.

amother

Slateblue

Wed, Jan 27 2016, 9:26 am

dancingqueen wrote:

Afaik you can carry certain kinds of pepper spray in nyc. I'm so sorry you were mugged though that's awful.

This was in NYC and the cops said none were ok. Told me, with a shrug of shoulders, "sorry". Admitted it made no sense. I had done my due diligence, taken self defense AND another class on Kung Fu. Yes I have belts. It was a real, formal class. Doesn't help if they are just simply bigger and stronger.
Cops had no solutions for me. Pepper spray was illegal but the bad guys (whom they obviously never caught) will do what they want.

amother

Lawngreen

Wed, Jan 27 2016, 9:35 am

morah wrote:

Get rid of De Blasio.

This. 1000%

Plus, make it legal to carry pepper spray, mace, guns or anything else that will protect us from criminals who don't care about the law and will get guns or knives illegally.

And bring back stop and frisk. I know it targeted a certain demographic but it kept all New Yorkers safe. At least safer than what is going on now. So bring it back even if it means you target everyone, not just certain people.

amother

Mauve

Wed, Jan 27 2016, 11:18 am

amother wrote:

Other than davening, what can u do to lessen chance of getting slashed on NYC subways? This is very frightening, happening way more often than ever before, in NYC.

With all due respect, I think you are being a little neurotic. Your chances of this happening are very low. Just be aware of your surroundings. -NYC mom

amother

Mauve

Wed, Jan 27 2016, 11:21 am

chocolate chips wrote:

[b]

That's ridiculous. I ride with my kids every day.