Rotten Pre-Teens Stole my Hat!!!

[HosManHatter]

This dastardly act happened was perpetrated against yours truly a few weeks ago and *gasp* in my own little quiet neighborhood. Fortunately it was only *sigh* my Guinness generic straw fedora (paid $12.50 on sale) and not something more dear to me. Since it was not worth making a huge out of and certainly not worth doing something stupid over i.e. yelling/cursing at or (heaven forbid!) grabbing a minor`s arm...I just chalked it up to experience and vowed never to get caught "slippin`" again. The little darlings even had the odacity to try and extort money for the return of my straw fedora.

Funny thing is I work around felons all day and should know better,eh?

Not sure whether I am more irritated or more embarressed on this one.

HMH

p.s. did I mention these hoods were all girls? *sigh*

 

[Neophyte]

You should probably at least find out who their parents are. That kind of behavior needs to be discouraged through a parent's hand. At least they didn't take any of the vintage fedoras I've heard you talking about.

I probably would have reacted much differently, as I become a whole different monster when people steal from me.

 

[dwebber18]

That is terrible indeed, you should move to Tennessee where these actions simply do not occur. Oh wait, my weed eater was stolen off my front porch a few weeks back. Never mind

 

[Feraud]

By doing nothing you have emboldened them towards their next petty theft.

 

[Unca Dusty]

I had a similar thing happen to me, only with a little more violence. Several years ago there was a rash of violent muggings in my somewhat salty neighborhood, so that the police were saying that robbery wasn't the whole point--the violence was a big part of it. These muggers were teens but adults and they were after money and blood (unfortunately the latter was all I had to give at the time...)
They scattered as a patrol car came up the street, but not before one of them grabbed my straw fedora and clamped in on his head as he ran off.
One officer stayed to interview me while the other drove around the building block to try and head the bastards off. I told the cop about the hat, who then radioed his partner. That was enough for the partner to stop a group of men, one of which was wearing a hat that looked slightly incongruous with his oversized, airbrushed Southpole T and droopy dungaree short pants.
It could be said that my hat caught my muggers (with the help of the Minneapolis Police Department, of course).
And to echo previous comments: report those girls!

 

[Shangas]

I am suddenly reminded of a scene from an episode of "Jeeves and Wooster".

 

[hatflick1]

This all reminds me of a news report man years back outta Brooklyn.

A 72 year old man was jumped by two assailants who wanted his wallet, hat, watch, etc.

Little did they know he was a longshoreman, who still worked the docks.
(Picture a Norman Mailer in his prime)

This old guy took on the duo to the point that one of them started begging a much amused gathering crowd to call the police.

When the cops arrived, the muggers were helped back up to their feet and arrested.

The man continued on home...wearing his hat and watch and wallet neatly secured in his back pocket.

 

[AXL DEMOCRACY]

HosMan this is horrible. Were you mugged or was it stolen from you after you put it down somewhere!?

Either way this is a crime and you should definitely report it!

I am very particular when it comes to some possessions especially clothing and my hats. I know the hat wasn't that expensive but it was still yours and that hat doesn't deserve the fate it will probably get in the hands of these idiots.

And as Neophyte said, finding out who their parents are and telling them would be a good idea. Unless they are as trashy as their children who have done this. Then that is another issue and should definitely be resolved by the law.

 

[HosManHatter]

Thanks for allowing me to vent everyone.

I did complain sternly to the parents of these rotten street urchins but...they only speak/understand spanish it seems. Selective understanding? Don`t want to accuse anybody of being dishonest but... *grumble*

It`s just that even though I am in the right here I (can you say victim boys and girls?) being in my line of work I`m perhaps more cautious when dealing with minors. This probably sounds paranoid but all it would take was for one,or more,of these monsters to accuse me of grabbing them,scaring them,threatening them,cursing at them or virtually anything these days and HMH would be the one having to explain himself. Kind of a sick Catch-22 isn`t it?

My computer-like analysis of the situation was based on known probable outcomes for my largely hispanic "ghetto" neighborhood to an "outsider" (read HMH as anglo minority), wishing to avert any possible future retaliation i.e. damage to my vehicle,etc. and also my own experience with these age groups.

Sounds corny but it was a hollow victory for these Lord-of-the-Flies-esque waifs since I kept in control,refused to "buy back" my hat for the paltry sum of $1.00 and went on with my business(CURSING myself under my breath).

Since I only paid $12.50 approx. 1.5 yrs ago for this hat and it was a bit stained and tired...well,let`s just say I learned a good lesson AND got a great excuse to now buy myself another Summer straw fedora!

Great replies guys.If the brats had been older I would have been bolder,aye.

HMH

 

[feltfan]

Was the lesson you learned that you should take Spanish lessons?

 

[HosManHatter]

DOH!! *Homer Simpson voice*






The lesson I learned was never to underestimate the crafty denizens of these mean streets! :kick:

 

[handlebar bart]

Mugged by preteen girls? That is likely a story I would keep to myself.lol lol

 

[Mario]

Mugged by preteen girls? That is likely a story I would keep to myself.lol lol

 

[HosManHatter]

"Mugged",indeed sir! *Dr.Zachary Smith voice*

Technically I wasn`t accosted since they never touched my person,right?

Yeah...they just rolled me for my straw fedora. Mmmmm....that`s actually even more pathetic,isn`t it? *sigh*

lol

HMH

 

[Edward]

Was the lesson you learned that you should take Spanish lessons?

I know a great Spanish phrase, but it'd likely get you into an awful lot more trouble.... lol

 

[HosManHatter]

Believe me if these ill mannered brats weren`t minors I would have used my spanish cursing phrases and expletives(only spanish I know)!!

HMH

 

[BanjoMerlin]

Give 'em a few years and they'll have their very own Spanish-speaking parole officers.

 

[Mikey P]

Mugged by preteen girls? That is likely a story I would keep to myself.lol lol

Apparently you've never had to deal with a mob of preteen girls!!

 

[Lefty]

My mom just put in her retirement papers to the Cleveland Schools after teaching in one of the many ghetto schools that are being closed this Summer. I can't believe that she was never assaulted.

Though her school only went to 8th grade, nearly every "boy" over 12 was taller than I am (6'1" or so) and far heavier than I am (around 160 these days). Many of these boys were well over 200lbs, and the "girls" were sometimes bigger than the boys. Among both boys and girls, more had parole officers (or whatever positive title the juvenile court gives them - direction providers?) than not.

Accosted by preteens, in some neighborhoods, isn't a race to the ice cream truck, and they all know that there's nothing you can do.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

Scientists are working on an exploding hat as I write...

Seriously though, that's a shame. People need to raise their children to be better citizens not better criminals.