Mt. Pleasant Resident Recounts Disturbing Robbery at Gunpoint

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lauren PM

Thanks to all who forwarded this disturbing incident.

At 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, my daughter, a friend of hers and I were robbed at gun point by two men at the corner of Newton and Mt. Pleasant. We are all “OK,” but I am very angry and sad.

Here are the details. The three of us were walking west on the south side of Newton. As we approached the crosswalk, I noticed two men walking the same direction as us, one in front and one back to my right. The one behind grabbed me and one in front whirled around and pointed his gun at my head. They told the girls to get into the intersection and keep their eyes down or I’d “get hurt.” They emptied my pockets (cell phone, handkerchief, car and house keys, and billfold). Then they took my daughter’s friend’s purse (cell phone inside). They told us to keep our eyes down and start walking away down Newton. After we turned the corner we ran to 18th and Newton. We started shouting and a woman from Newton let us use her cell phone to call 911.

The police came in about 2 minutes. The officer drove us around Newton, Monroe, Ingleside and then south of Park, while many other police cars were also circling around. Eventually, the officer asked my daughter and her friend to go with another set of officers in their car, in order to get our statements separately. Eventually, we all got back home.

Things I’ve learned so far:
1) Neighbors are the best!

2) Beware of two guys walking the same direction as you, one behind and one ahead. The one in front slowed down and blocked us, while the one behind closed in. It’s like a squeeze play. Makes me sick.

3) Remember the robbers’ shoes. When they kept telling us to keep our eyes down I didn’t want to, but I should have used the opportunity to study and memorize their shoes. I had more time to look at their shoes than any other part of their body or clothing, but now I can only remember that the shoes were black.

4) Give away your money for a good cause. Ironically, we were walking home from a fundraiser at St. Stephen’s Church. I had given almost all my cash away.

5) Thank God for strong and calm teen girls. My daughter and her friend were thoughtful, helpful and safe. While I hated that they we were victims with me, I am also thankful for their presence and composure.