He was "bagged"

Australia -- A 24-year-old Hornsby (Sydney) woman was threatened with a sexual assault while going to work at a nursing home Monday, according to smh.com.au.

A man reportedly approached her as she was walking along the street. The 22-year-old man - who was later arrested - started talking to her and she walked up a pathway, according to police.

The man then took out a knife, held it to the woman's throat from behind - threatening to kill her. However, the young woman pushed the attackers knife away, turned around and hit him with her bag. She then allegedly kicked him and ran away.

Her wits about her

Very resourceful actions from this woman!

Story:
Florida -- A 76-year-old East Naples woman was able to outwit an intruder who was trying to rape her Sunday night nbc-2.com reports.

The woman left her bathroom after taking a shower around 8:30 p.m. when a man attacked her from behind.

The man allegedly forced her to the floor and tied up the woman's hands. He covered her eyes and then attempted to rape her.

The woman told officials while she was trying to reason with her attacker she was able to activate her medical alert bracelet and told him that police were on the way.

She said she was able to free herself and ran to a neighbor's house. The suspect took off.

Crying robber

This is just too funny...
A guy tries to rob a salesman - receives a fist by his intended victim, and takes off crying. Guess he went straight to his mum for comfort.

Story:
In Gloucester, a 32-year-old salesman punched a would-be robber trying to steal his laptop at around 2:30 p.m. on February 19, according to a police spokesperson.

The salesman was allegedly knocking on a door when the offender came up behind him and pushed him.

"The would-be robber then demanded he hand over his computer and mobile phone," the spokesperson said.

The intended victim punched the offender and he is reported to have run off empty-handed and crying.

Just one drop

Missouri -- Thanks to a drop of blood, police believe they've solved a violent crime that occurred more than eight years ago in Clayton, bnd.com reports.

And now, a 38-year-old St. Louis man faces charges for robbing and sexually assaulting a woman in 1999.

Police say the woman was talking on the phone when she was grabbed from behind. Wearing a pillowcase over his head, the assailant tried to sexually assault her.

Fighting back, she bit the suspect so hard it drew blood. That turned out to be vital to the case.

Late 2006, the blood sample was entered into a DNA index system - something which eventually led police to the suspect, who was on probation for another crime.

A 'cooler aid'

A South Side apartment complex in Madison, Wisconsin has already been the scene of three murders and a non-fatal shooting during a 15 months period.

Thursday night yet another crime occurred, when a 50-year-old woman reportedly had to fight off an attempted sexual assault by a stranger in the basement of her building, according to madison.com.

The tenant said she had gone to a storage locker in the building's basement about 6 p.m. to get something. She was just about to leave when a man grabbed her from behind, a police spokesman said.

As the man held her by the waist, the woman reached into the storage locker, grabbing a hard beverage cooler plastic top to defend herself.

She was able to hit him a couple of times right in the head with it. The attacker yelled in pain, and the woman was able to run back upstairs to her apartment.

A police report stated the woman's shirt was ripped in the encounter, but she was otherwise unharmed.

More targeting

Canada -- Vancouver.24hrs.ca reports that Asian women are being targeted in the latest string of violent purse snatchings, according to police.

A Police spokesperson says that five women have been assaulted from behind and robbed in southeast Vancouver between December 4 and December 9.

"The suspect comes up from behind and brutalizes the victim," the spokesperson said. Some women were hit in the back of the head with something like a police baton.

In the past, Asian women were targeted by thieves because of a perception immigrants are less likely to report crimes.

Lame excuses #2

In our ongoing series "It wasn't me" we have reached the often used 'sudden feeling'... This is commonly accompanied with "I'm sorry", and "I didn't mean to".

Story:
In Malaysia, nst.com.my reports about a 17-year-old who blamed his violence on a "sudden feeling which overcame him".

On April 21, 2007, an 18-year-old female college student was walking along a pedestrian lane in the college when the teenage security guard threw a rock at her from behind, causing her to fall to the ground.

The young man then dragged his victim into a nearby storeroom, undressed her and began to assault her. When the student screamed, he repeatedly hit her on the head with the rock. He tried to rape her, but when he failed to do so, he rolled his clothes to form a rope and tried to strangle her.

After begging him to stop, he set her free and she sought help from a male college friend who took her to a clinic.

A welfare officer read the probation report on the accused. He said the boy regretted his actions as they were a result of a "sudden feeling which overcame him". "He did not intend to hurt the student," the welfare officer said.

Real estate agents

In Georgia, DeKalb County Police are warning local real estate agents to be careful, especially if they are women, 11alive.com reports.

The alert follows a sexual attack on a lone agent. The 36-year-old woman told detectives she was attacked while taking sales flyers to a home in Tucker on Tuesday, November 27.

She said not long after she entered a carport door, a man jumped her from behind, pinned her against a counter and began fondling her. However the woman fought back and managed to escape to her car, drive away and call police.

Cell phone strike

Glad there are instances when a cell phone comes to good use! As we all know by now, it can be a major source of distraction.

Story:
Tennessee -- Authorities have charged a 52-year-old postal worker who apparently attempted to abduct a 15-year-old girl Monday night, November 12 at a store in Cordova.

The girl, who was alone, had just left the store about 6 p.m., when the man approached her from behind.

"He initially told her to, 'Come here,' when she refused. The victim turned away and started walking back toward the store. The suspect then grabbed her and tore her shirt," a police spokeswoman said.

"She did strike him with her cell phone. She was definitely trying to get away. She felt she was in danger. She did not know this person and so she escaped serious injuries."

Just looking ...

Say this can't be so: "Several stunned witnesses watched as the woman screamed and battled back"! Oh, my ...

The paper is calling this woman "tough as nails", and I tend to agree. I wonder what we should call these onlookers ... "concerned citizens" maybe?

Story:
New York -- A woman fought off a would-be rapist who viciously attacked her on an East Harlem street in front of shocked onlookers, authorities said.

The woman, 37, was walking on a street at about 4 a.m. July 4, when a 28-year-old man allegedly grabbed her from behind and dragged her down to the ground.

During the struggle, the attacker shoved his hands under her shirt and pants and fondled her, prosecutors said.

Several stunned witnesses watched as the woman screamed and battled back. Finally, the perpetrator gave up and fled but was arrested nearby, cops said.

Source

Fighting food

Some people seems to belong on the inside of a prison - and no, they're not the ones working there ...

Story:
Turkey -- On the day he was released from prison in Izmir after serving time for purse snatching, a 24-year-old man was taken into custody for trying to snatch the purse of 54-year-old woman.

The incident occurred Saturday evening in Izmir. The newly released purse-snatcher chose the woman, who was on her way out of the mall, as a victim.

After sneaking up from behind her, he tried to snatch her purse by pulling on it; however, the woman resisted so he tried to take her down.

The woman hit the purse-snatcher on his head with the grocery she had and began yelling for help. The man panicked and tried to escape.

He was captured by police teams patrolling the area shortly after the police was notified of his purse-snatching attempt.

Source

Paranoid?

Maybe it's a bit paranoid to look into your vehicle before entering?
Or maybe it's a good idea? After all things like this happen to someone ...
And this someone could never be you or me, right?

Story:
Tennessee -- Sheer terror greeted a woman early Sunday as she drove away from a Memphis gas station and a carjacker popped up in her car's back seat.

The woman had filled up at the a gas station about 3 a.m. When she went inside to pay the carjacker got into her car. As she drove away from the station he attacked her.

The woman fought with the suspect, then jumped from her moving vehicle and ran toward the store, police said.

Instead of driving away with the car, the carjacker turned it around and began chasing her. The woman was able to evade the carjacker by running between two buildings. The suspect then drove off.

Source

Didn't feel right

Illinois - It started off as an ordinary walk to school Wednesday, just like others the 13-year-old Peoria girl has taken countless times. But something didn't feel right.

She looked over her shoulder and saw a man she didn't know walking not far behind her.

No one else was around on this overgrown path next to railroad tracks in a wooded, secluded area in the city's North Valley.

She looked behind her again. He quickened his pace. Her heart beat faster. She started running, knowing she was trapped.

Source

Fighting dirty

A University of Florida graduate assistant who was walking toward campus Thursday morning fought off a man who knocked her to the ground and attacked her.

"I chose not to be a victim," said the 23-year-old woman. "I thought to myself, 'I'm not going to let this happen.'"

The woman struggled with the man, who had first asked her for money as she was walking at about 11 a.m., Gainesville Police said. The woman told the man she was sorry, she didn't have anything she could give him, and kept walking.

"He just sort of came up behind me and pushed me to the ground," she said. "I just kept kicking him. My hands were already in the dirt. I grabbed dirt and started throwing the dirt."

When the woman fought back, her attacker let her go and fled.

Source

A hood-head

Found this at hollabacknyc blogspot (a great blog by the way!).
Stories like this really makes me ashamed to be a member of the male population. There really are some pathetic and ignorant individuals out there ...

Story:
Tonight around 10 p.m., on a train back to her apartment in Williamsburg, a hooded man seated next to my best friend, a 22 year old woman, whispered in her ear "I am going to follow you when you get up."

He did follow her, just a step behind, up the subway steps of her stop and out onto the street. With great clarity in a life-threatening moment, she stepped inside a bodega, while he stood outside, waiting for her, and was fortunate to find a couple who were willing to walk her the few steps from the market to her apartment door.

When they exited the bodega, the hooded man was still there, waiting for his (potential) victim. Unfortunately, it took the help of two people--a woman to make her feel safe, and a man to protect her-- to allow this woman to arrive home unharmed.

The most important part of this is that my friend is safe, but I feel such anger and rage that men like this, who derive such a false, disgusting sense of power from physically and sexually threatening women in public (or private), can make strong, smart, powerful women like my friend doubt their decision to live alone if they choose, to live free and independent lives, or to merely live at all. I am completely disgusted, and concerned for my friend.

Submitted by E.M.

Hazards at work, 10

From media reports it may seem that attacks on people delivering pizza is happening all the time.
I do wonder if these companies have put any protective strategies to work. Or do they figure that robberies and assaults are simply "occupational hazards"?

Story:
A Colorado Springs pizza delivery man was attacked from behind and robbed of all of his pizza. It happened in an apartment complex Friday.

Witnesses say that there were 6 or 7 people in their late teens or early twenties that had ordered pizza to an apartment address. Once the delivery man came, he was hit on the head from behind with a rock and the pizza was taken. The man was sent to the hospital and required 13 staples in his head. Police have made no arrests.

Source

Friendliness

A common way to have you lower your guard: (too much) friendliness.

Story:
Norway – An 18-year-old female was on her way to a friend in Trondheim. She had spent a night on town, had been arguing with somebody and was subsequently walking on her own.

As she was walking, she met an unknown male. The man noticed that she was upset; he asks her for her name and gives her his jacket when she says she’s cold.

The man also asks her where she’s going – suggesting to the young woman she might want to follow him home to his place.

The teenager says no. When she tries to leave, the man holds her back. The female breaks free and escapes. Running away, she believes she has lost the man. But after a while she can hear footsteps behind her.

Finding that she’s being followed by the same person, she presses a random doorbell to a nearby residence. She shouts and begs to be let in.

The assailant grabs her and pushes her against a wall while he attempts to sexually assault her. He holds a hand over her mouth and tells her to be quiet. The intended victim, however is screaming during the whole ordeal.

A young woman living close by has heard the commotion. When she arrives at the scene, the attacker takes off.

Source

On the phone again

UK -- Police in Bath have issued an appeal for witnesses following an indecent assault in the city.
The incident took place on Thursday November 9 at 2:30 a.m. near to a (pedestrian) pelican crossing.

The 19-year-old female was walking alone, talking on her mobile when she was touched on her back by a man. The victim screamed and the offender reached over to cover her mouth with his hand, pulling her backwards, before running off.

Source

Fire!

A simple, yet effective method of self-defense!

Story:
North Texas -- When Deanna got out of her car on a dark corner and a truck pulled up behind her, two men then emerged from the car and suddenly approached her.

"It was from behind, so it was like, 'Give me all your money,'" she said.

At that instant, Deanna said she remembered a self-defense episode of "Oprah" that advised women that yelling fire was usually more effective than yelling help.

"I said, 'Oh no, this is not happening to me,' and screamed, 'Fire!'" she said. Once she began yelling that word, the two men ran off.

Source

Being followed

Hmmm...
"She was very aware this person was following her."
And still she just parks outside her house and gets out without being certain about the follower?
And we wonder why people are being victims, and calling crimes for random?
Luckily, this woman escaped unharmed though.

Story:
The victim, who was described as physically slight and "bookish," was returning home from a wedding early Sunday and had just pulled off of the Blue Route when the she noticed a car following close behind.

This car is right up on her to the point she thought it was a police car, according to police. She makes a right, and he's right behind her. She was very aware this person was following her.

When the victim pulled into her driveway she thought the car had driven past her house. But what she didn't know was that the driver of the black Solara parked behind some tall bushes and turned off the car’s lights and ignition, police said.

As the victim gathered some items from the back of her car, the suspect, wearing a mask, walked up from behind. He told her not to scream and to go with him.

At one point, he hit her over the head with what the victim believed to be a silver revolver with a black handle, police said. The woman was forced into the trunk of the car, which the man then drove off. The victim was able to escape from the trunk and call for help.

Source