March 24
...serving up your daily dish.
It was 7 a.m. yesterday morning, when a 16 year old boy noticed he was being followed. He was making his way north on Maple Avenue in Montclair. The Star Ledger reports yet another disheartening incident in Baristaville:
He felt a sharp object, believed to be a knife, put against his back," Lieutenant James Carlucci said. The boy then heard these words "Give me everything you got in your pockets," Carlucci said.
After the boy turned over the money, the robber ran south on Maple Avenue, police said.
The assailant was described as a light-skinned, clean-shaven black male in his early 20s, with black braids, a thin build and about 6 feet tall. He was wearing a black wool hat, a black hooded sweat shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers.
Montclair police said another theft occurred last night: two new 2006 Chrysler 300's, valued at $46,000 each, were stolen from the lot of Decozen Chrysler Jeep.
The silver cars were parked in the dealership's lot on Bloomfield Avenue when they were last noticed at the 8 p.m. closing on Monday, said Lt. James Carlucci.
"Keys (to the cars) were missing from a closet," Carlucci said.
March 24, 2006 in Really Freaking Weird | Permalink
Oh come on, in broad day light!? I walk to the YMCA twice a day, in the day and at night, should I start worrying? Should I not walk with my iPod on so I can hear of someone is coming up behind me? Does anyone know where I can get pepper spray?
Posted by: katie | Mar 24, 2006 9:55:32 AM
I almost bought a house right by Glenfield park last summer. I hope they catch the bum. Too bad the guy didn't trip and break his leg when he was running away.
Posted by: D | Mar 24, 2006 9:58:11 AM
"Should I not walk with my iPod on so I can hear of someone is coming up behind me?"
I would not walk alone at night wearing my iPod. You want to be aware of your surroundings.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Mar 24, 2006 10:01:22 AM
Yeah I think of that all the time but I walk down Park Ave which is kind of busy, it's not just some side street so I figure if something were to happen someone else would see. Plus I don't have money so I hope I wouldn't get robbed. But I do have an iPod, I guess that's almost like money. But pepper spray, no one knows where to get it? I can't just walk into an A&P and find it I know that.
Posted by: katie | Mar 24, 2006 10:19:25 AM
There may be a product available in some hardware stores... like a mace product... I think it's supposed to fend off "attacking dogs"
Posted by: JT | Mar 24, 2006 10:22:21 AM
Katie,
You should get some training as to how and when to use it as well. If you "pepper" someone with "dog" spray an you don't have proper training you are opening yourself up to HUGH liability.
I don't know about New Jersey but in some places a license is required.
Posted by: Right of Center™ | Mar 24, 2006 10:31:13 AM
If we can give a housing stipend to the Montclair Town Manager, why can't we do the same, or at least make affordable housing available to our Police and Firemen ?
If more of our Police force actually lived in Montclair, perhaps it would make an overall difference for the better. That, I would gladly support, versus throwing away money on boutique Board of Education "flavor of the moment" programs.
Posted by: taxpayer | Mar 24, 2006 10:32:53 AM
I can see it now. Man assaults and robs someone and the person retaliates with pepper spray and then get sued by the attacker. In NJ the attacker would probably win...for shame!!!
Posted by: D | Mar 24, 2006 10:37:26 AM
R.O.C.
I believe it's the amount of irritant in the spray (that's legal or illegal in each State). One time we were in Montana (Glacier Natl Park), I purchased some Bear spray. When I got back & looked up the site of the Manufacturer, there was a % of irritant
that some States allowed & others didn't.
Posted by: JT | Mar 24, 2006 10:38:00 AM
Katie: the 'Bullet Hole' in Belleville sells an assortment of pepper sprays and other self defense goodies .
Posted by: RadonMan | Mar 24, 2006 10:38:10 AM
Which police should we pay to live among us? The ones who retired at 45 and are now selling real estate?
Posted by: walleroo | Mar 24, 2006 10:39:04 AM
While I agree with you D and MM there is a BIG assumption there. BIG.
You assume it is a witnessed and open and shut case of assault. What if Katie were to feel threatened and use the spray and there were no witnesses and the assailant denies an attack was in process?
The world doesn't operate in absolutes.
If she has training as to *when* and *how* to protect herself, she'll have much more of a leg to stand on. Remember it is a weapon.
Posted by: Right of Center™ | Mar 24, 2006 10:43:21 AM
Blah Blah Blah..what if...what if..what if...We could sit here all day and come up with "What if" scenarios...People love to do it. Bottom line...I hope they catch the kid and break his hand so he can't hold a knife anymore.
Posted by: D | Mar 24, 2006 10:45:36 AM
What does retiring at 45 and selling real estate have to do with anything ? Enlighten me.
Posted by: taxpayer | Mar 24, 2006 10:51:45 AM
Rather than "having a leg to stand on" you would be better advised to learn to use your leg to defend yourself.
Posted by: Byron | Mar 24, 2006 11:02:06 AM
Interesting, that people who once denounced law enforcement officers as "pigs" now beg them to become their neighbors.
Posted by: Byron | Mar 24, 2006 11:04:57 AM
Byron, only very foolish and silly people ever denounced the police as "pigs." Surely you're not suggesting that so many of the perpetually aggrieved here ever had such feelings, are you? You mean 60's leftovers? Nah, never in Baristaville.
Posted by: cathar | Mar 24, 2006 11:08:36 AM
Speaking only for myself, I never used any such vulgarity on a police officer, and I would gladly welcome one as a neighbor, anytime.
Posted by: taxpayer | Mar 24, 2006 11:10:58 AM
You're right Cathar, stupid of me to suggest that, but I got suspicious when I noticed that the pacifists were seeking to arm themselves with weapons.
Posted by: Byron | Mar 24, 2006 11:12:31 AM
They also want to create "warm fuzzies" for the perps of these crimes. Mark my words, if they catch this creep, we'll soon be hearing about how misunderstood he was, what a rotten childhood he had, the Devil made him do it, what about "his" rights?....ad nauseum.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Mar 24, 2006 11:13:29 AM
