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Girl, 17, Escapes Mugging by Macing her Assailants

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Less than an hour ago, a seventeen year-old Jewish girl escaped a potential mugging; spraying her assailants with mace. The incident took place on Troy Avenue, between Crown and Carroll Streets at around 5:30pm.

A group of 4 black males surrounded the girl and demanded money. She, in turn, pulled a mace can and sprayed them, forcing them to flee in panic.

The victim immediately called 911. Many police officers responded and began searching for the perpetrators. However so far they are having little luck finding them.

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75 Comments

  • SICK AND TIRED

    KOL HAKAVOD!!!!! LET THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL GIVE OUT THOSE BOTTLES TO THE WHOLE CROWN HEIGHTS AND STOP THESE CRIMES ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!

  • Mother

    Good for her!!! Very brave! This is a serious matter which should be taught in all schools w/ refresher courses every month. The community council should most definitely have mace available to all programs teaching safety courses. The safety of our children and ourselves is not a laughing matter.

  • fedup

    all these cops, waling around, what a waste …. maybe they will shine a giant light on this street corner now for a week. that seems to work wonders.

  • ch goya

    THAT’S RIGHT!!!!!!!!! Everyone should carry pepper spray. These guys aren’t counting on anyone being armed or having any guts. That is a tough gal. Good for her! :)

  • Good job!

    Buy them on ebay for less than $7. Make sure they are at least 15% hot pepper to really get that ‘ouch’.

  • fellow crown heightser

    YAY!!! GOOD FOR YOU! maybe we should all get a can of mace. thanks for the incentive.

  • Yossy

    For shure this were the best 18 dollars that you invested, thank G-d you are OK, Hashem Ishmerech

  • Great thinking!!

    wow right on my block and i was just walking home not long before then.
    thats a fantastic idea as everyone should be able to get a can of mace/pepper spray from the community council i wouldnt care to pay for it but its something that should be easily accesible for those who want it!!!
    LETS SEE SOME ACTION!!

  • isha

    what a brave teenager!!!
    where can i get mace spray?
    we should all carry it in our purses!!!

  • AG

    Great job! it is good to see ppl doing something!
    I am also carrying a can with mace on me but always wonder if i will be able to use it if G-d forbid it is needed…:(

  • lets get back @ these mf-s

    Good 4 U!! A few more people getting back at these mamzarim and they just might leave us alone!!
    why didn’t she call shomrim as well?

  • used to be 17

    hurray! when i was in crown heights as a girl (post the ch riots) i also carried around mace…never had to use it b”h

  • Moshiach is wanted here!

    Oy when will Moshiach come? But Boruch Hashem we have the sprays to let them stay away. use pepper spray too!!

  • crownheightzer

    stop these crimes once and for all ch should be a safe place to live and you go girl!!!!

  • guns

    wow! finally someone standing their own ground.

    it’s true all women should have one.

  • me

    I noticed that TROY ave. has no police as compared to Albany Ave. and Kingston . We can use POLOICE on many blocks of TROY ave. ,especially because its not so well lit and not so many people walk there.

    Please carry a Tanya and rebbe picture for safety.

  • Ariyeh Leib Segall

    The 71st Pct. should be providing them free of charge since they are proving themselves useless in stopping these animals!!!!!

    The cops themselves are afraid of Troy & Schnectady as well as Brooklyn Avenues…. They are never around these streets after dark… They seem to huddle together in groups …

    Somebody should catch them on film….and show it to the media…

    NY’s Finest … Hah Hah….

  • CH PARENT

    LETS NOT TEACH OUR KIDS TO FIGHT BACK R’L WHAT IF ONE OF THEM HAD A GUN YOUR LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN A FEW BUCKS

  • Anonymous

    Smart girl, but I hope they don’t arrest her for carrying Mace. Most mace and pepper sprays are illegal to carry in NY. Find out what is ok before you start buying it and handing it out.

  • A word to the wise

    If you are alone when an incident occurs AND the perpetrators are actually on site: it is better to call shomrim as well as the police so that there will be a community presence. This will encourage a proper questioning of the perpetrators by the police.

  • Pentax

    To: CH PARENT

    Hey genius…Just cause you gave the criminal a few bucks doesn’t mean he will let you live.

  • Anonymous

    I got my pepper spray from a locksmith store in Manhattan.

    CH PARENT: Your concern is understandable but remember the incident over the summer where the young girl was dragged through the playground and got her head slammed into a slide? It isn’t so much about fighting back but at least having something that can scare off or debilitate attackers. When someone is maced, their eyes burn, they’re blinded.

    Years ago, I was locked out the front of my building (the key broke) and had to enter through the dim alley. A man came out from a gate and tried to talk to me. I gently told him to leave me alone but he wouldn’t. Before I knew it, I was against a wall and he was a few feet away from me, getting closer. I held up my mace, he got really mad, called me names and left. It was traumatizing but nothing compared to what could’ve happened if I wasn’t prepared.

    “Why does pepper spray stop an attacker? When pepper spray is sprayed into someone’s eyes and face, it irritates the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract (throat). Coughing and choking may be experienced. It is very uncomfortable and there is some pain associated with it. The end result is temporary incapacitation, mostly due to not being able to see. It has people too preoccupied with the blinding and painful experience to even attempt to do anything violent to you.”

  • Bubby in the hood

    This girl is smart & was prepared. But 5:30 PM??? When people are around?? This wasn’t in the middle of the night! we have a RIGHT to expect our streets to be safe at all times, but especially during “normal” hours!

    So once again, even though we all know the answer……WHAT IS OUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL DOING ABOUT MUGGINGS & ASSAULTS IN CROWN HEIGHTS?

    Answer: NOTHING!!

    They are too busy having photo ops about Haiti. I thought when Mr. klein HY”D was murdered, they would re-think their priorities & make our streets safe. Hah! What a fool I was! Nothing’s changed. The thugs are even braver now & our kids aren’t safe.

    I think our only hope lies in Shmorim. These hard working guys need more members to form patrols to stand on corners, drive around all day & night, & keep an eye out for us. The cops won’t do it, they sleep in their cars or take a cell-phone/smoking break under Hamafitz’s awning. I’d join, but Shomrim doesn’t need a 55 year old pistol-packin’ momma!

  • Say no to crime.

    To “Ok”

    You asked “what can be done to PREVENT these attacks from happening?”

    The answer:

    Nothing. Crime happens EVERYWHERE. In every country, every city and every neighbourhood. In some places, crimes are seldom but horrifying, in others, more often, but standard street crime.

    Actually, you can hire the National Guard, or the 3rd infantry, that should prevent these crimes.

    Practically speaking, the only thing we can do is LOWER the number of crimes. We can’t STOP them.

    I have a different question:

    Every time a crime happens here, the police come out with their Mobile Command Center and their bright lights. Furthermore, the city pays them overtime to stand and schmooze at the corners of every block in Crown Heights.

    So, 2 weeks go by, no crime, they leave.

    No cops – criminals are back in business.

  • Milwaukee Jew

    To Isha: I agree that we should all carry it, but on our keychains, in our hands, instead of in our purses. I have had a can of it on my keychain since I was in high school, and it did come in handy once in college. I was confronted while walking back to my car just off campus. My keys were in my left hand. All I had to do was point it at the assailant and he fled faster than I could scream, “911”. The point is, if you have it in your purse or bag it isn’t as easily accessible if, G-d forbid, you need it. The keychain ones have a tab over the trigger so it can’t be released unintentionally.

    To Anonymous: You have a point about mace and pepper sprays being technically illegal in many areas (I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is – unsure about NY laws). However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an assailant calling the police and complaining that, while trying to mug/attack/rape someone he/she was maced! Most police agencies view the law as protection for themselves: i.e., if they get maced by an attacker they will ticket/charge the “mace holder”, but if it is a victim attempting to defend themselves the police won’t be ticketing/charging the victim. My boyfriend is a State Trooper and in his 15 years of police work he has never heard of a person being ticketed for using pepper spray in self-defense. In other words, this law/prohibition is VERY arbitrarily applied, usually in favor of a person using it in legitimate self-defense. A final point, if you don’t have an extensive felony record, the penalty for being ticketed for using pepper spray is similar to that of a parking ticket or jaywalking (usually under $100). Is your life/welfare/peace of mind worth having to, at most paying $100? I think so! So please do not let this law deter you from carrying pepper spray in an easily accessible and responsible manner!

  • i wouldn-t be surprized

    I would not be surprized if she gets fined for carrying the mace….it’s just so new york, they like to make it easy for the criminals and dificult for the innocent.

    I agree will all to have pepper spray but I agree with CH parent that you need common sense and should not be overly confident.

    it should not be used against a gun

  • ENOUGH!

    Why is this happening? Until when will they wait to stop these people? HOW MANY THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN???? Boruch HaShem she was okay, but still. She was so close.

  • Cheaper and more effective than mace

    Just buy yourself a bottle of oven cleaner.
    It’s cheaper, can be carried anywhere in a purse/bag LEGALLY, and, above all, does a better job on the eyes!!

  • ceo

    THAT GIRL IS A LEADER.
    what ever she will do in the future, she will be good at, she knows what to do.
    Good for her, and good that now the street people will know that we will do things to protect ourselves.
    Sell them here!!!

  • To Me

    How is a Tanya and Rebbe picture going to help you when you’re being attacked. Get with the times.

  • me

    she didn’t get fined for the maice. it was used in self defence.
    YOU GO GIRL!!!
    A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OTHER GIRLS AND BOYS!!!!

  • Alex

    Its completely LEGAL to carry and USE Pepper Spray/Mace(TM) in NYC to protect yourself. However you MUST get it from authorized dealer in NYC,like pharmacies, one pharmacy that I know of is Sunshine on Kingston. When you purchase the spray they ask for your ID and record it in a form which will be send to Police for record.
    Buying Spray online is ILLEGAL.
    It is ILLEGAL to carry or transfer Pepper Spray to minors, so this girl could TECHNICALLY be in trouble, and who ever gave her the can.

    If u get the spray legally you can even carry it on a plane.

  • mendel

    just make sure that ONLY those that know how to you is should have one i mean the mace, so i think EVERYBODY old enough to have one with then should carry one

  • LAMABALOO

    yes its a great story, but this should not enourage others to act in such a manner, it worked here and good for her, BUT 4 PEOPLE, WHAT IF ONE OF THEM WAS PACKING HEAT, OR HAD A KNIFE, MACE WOULDNT HAVE HELPED, SURE YOU SPRAYED ONE, OR 2, BUT THIS WONT WORK EVERY TIME, NOT EVEN CARRYING A GUN WILL HELP, YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL AND DONT KNOW HOW TO USE IT ESPECIALLY IN SUCH TIMES, WHAT YOU GUYS IN C.H . NEED IS ACHDUS TO STEP UP TO CITY HALL AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, YOU NEED REAL AND AFFECTIVE POLICE PRESENCE AND THIS GARBAGE DOESNT HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER NORMAL CITY,,,,

  • Be careful!

    Use caution when using the spray… If you spray it into the wind, you know who will be screaming in pain…

  • David Gold

    I too am so proud of her!
    YET
    My karate instructor taught me that the best thing to do is to run and avoid a fight at almost all costs –
    Be careful not to escalate the fight -for them a bullet means nothing and jail is a hobby –
    They are often streetfighters – Girls are no match – lets be honest here
    my advice is
    if you can run – unless you are cornered or being assulted – then use it and if you do spray away from your face and then run like ..

    Be Proud!

  • Get a Taser!!

    get a taser people!! It’s much better than mace or pepper spray!! You can get the guy(s) from over 20 feet away. Better to keep them away from you. It is much better than mace as you can’t miss!! Anywhere you hit him (it goes through clothes) he will fall to ground and beg you to stop – he won’t really be able to talk. You have like 10 minutes until he can stand up normally again. That should be enough time if you call shomrim they are much faster than the cops! And there you go you were never hurt and they don’t have to go looking for the guy!
    They cost more but are way more effective.

  • Role Model

    Way to go. Wake up Crown Heights Protect yourself or be unprotected. When the thugs will see no more potential victims but will see Jews as “self defenders”, they will think twice before lifting a hand. True role model