Mugged on a hike

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A few years ago after I was very badly scared by a burglary I got the opportunity to meet the lad as part of a restorative justice process. He'd nicked a lot of stuff and flogged it (what upset me was the stuff that was my grannies and my mums both long dead at that point) and made a bit of a mess of the house and left notes saying when he was coming back etc. I lived on my own and normally I'm a brave thing but was shaken by it as he seemed to know a bit too much about when I was in and not.

When I faced him I felt very much as though all my anger and fear dissipated, I'd been to the court when he was tried and sentenced and he'd had a go at being a cocky little sod. But when he was sent down it was a bit of a shock to him. Meeting him I realised I was the one with power, and control and a good life, and good mates, and that he was the one in way over his head. I told him about what he'd stolen who it had belonged to in my family, I talked about my mum and my granny and the few bits of jewellery I had had been theirs. I talked about how scared it had made me. I talked about what it was like to have the things you care about trashed, stupid things like he burnt all my doctoral research notes, he trashed my computer because it was a crappy old one, and he nicked all my disks (it put paid to the PhD but hey ho) and binned them somewhere.

I asked him about his life and his mum and his mates. I saw him as a rather pathetic kid who had no clue and didn't give a **** about anything. I suspect no-one had asked him about anything for a long time. By the third time I met with him he was visibly shaking each time we talked. I regained utterly my feeling that I was ok. And that justice had been done because he actually learnt what the impact of his actions were. The last time I visited he started crying right at the start. Not to make me sorry for him he knew I wasn't a soft touch, but because he was having to face how worthless his life was in the grand scheme of things. He spent five years inside for a whole string of burglaries.

I met him once when he was about to be released. He wasn't a cocky sod any more. I can't say he was a great human being but he had got off smack and had done some GCSEs inside too. He said he regretted what he'd done, and that the worse thing about it was having to face me because each time I'd seen him I hadn't shouted or been angry but had looked back at him without flinching, and there was nowhere for him to go. It's made me stronger too in the long run.

I greatly admire that you gave the stuff over, and that you are so gracefully accepting friendship from your mates on here. I salute you. You are the bigger in every way. And shaking and fury are natural reactions and good to acknowledge, it will get you through the next couple of days. You are safe. That is what matters. And tomorrow you will still be ok with great mates. They will still be tossers.
 
Wow. I'm not so sure I'd be able to stand there and see them...without wanting to smack the ever living hell out of them. I'm out tomorrow to hit the local pawn shops as well.

Police have told me if I find it, to call them. They can then recover it, process it and then give it back when time comes.
 
Yes, I found some of my stuff in the local pawn shops, and some at a local pub - already sold on twice! The pawn shop was how the lad was caught as he'd had to leave his name and address.

I didn't have to meet the bloke straight off, and by the time I did I was ready to, and there was a structure and process to help me do it. These processes have proven to be really good at helping the person on the receiving end (me, and you) and also in reducing re-offending. I will admit to doing it for me and for my benefit, but I also thought he needed to both accept responsibility and see the human face of what he had done. It did that.

I hope that talKing about it with us feels supportive, and that we are with you in this. And if you want someone with you next time in Ashridge, I'll come. In fact I suspect there would be several of us willing to do so. If it would help you take back that space as yours to be in happily it'd be worth the trip.
 
I probably won't go back for a little while. I will stick to very local areas for the time being...IE walking distance.

And yes, everyone's words and offers have been very kind. I'm all blown away.

Right now though, I am heading to bed. I've gone through a bit over 1/4 of a bottle of whiskey and I'm thankful for autocorrect on my phone for once.
 
This is a sad story & things like this happen all too often. I do hope you get your stuff returned. Like most of us, you will have time to replace your stolen equipment & continue to enjoy bushcrafting. I have been deeply moved by the genuine kindness from forum members, who have gone above and behyond best wishes and support. You guys and gals are the salt of the earth. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful inspiring new year.
 
Really sorry to hear of this and I hope you are feeling a little easier today. I won't express what I'd like to inflict on the little :censored:

Lovely to see the help offered from the folks on here and I'm sure it wouldn't matter what time of year it was. All the best mate, take care of yourself and seasons greetings to you and yours.
 
Sorry to hear that :( It's not even something I'd considered happening before and I'm grateful that I'm mostly out and about in relatively inaccessible land by foot(as in it's a pretty long walk without many footpaths).

Of all the things to lose I think the phone would be the worst for me. I wish there was a way you could remotely wipe everything. Maybe there is. Nonetheless, bit of a stinker before Christmas to say the least.

I was heading over to the woods today to get a bracket fungus to process down but I think I'll give it a miss...
 
really sorry to read this... so far nobody has been trying to mug me but i had plenty of hostile experiences with adolescents who did not like my lifestyle back in europe (in fact there was one neighbouring village where i never went unarmed when i had to pass through...) and several scary encounters while travelling; as a result i tend to look regularly behind me to make sure nobody follows me and keep an eye open for escape routes... .
if it would been me instead of you i would been tempted to use my tools and walking stick on the b******* but i'm not recommending this as a solution to others! i hope the get the mongrels and you get your stuff back!
 
Well a good mood this morning. Police caught 1 of the ratbags, who had the knife. That will be returned once it's been through the process. I am pressing charges obviously.

The ratbag apparently said the other kit was "too bulky" to carry, so they dumped threw it out the car window on the way back to Luton using country roads, so I'll likely never see it again. As for the phone, he said he didn't know.

Just the knife is a big relief. And hangover isn't bad...Nothing a fry up can't fix.

If I haven't said it before. Thank God for the police
 
Well a good mood this morning. Police caught 1 of the ratbags, who had the knife. That will be returned once it's been through the process. I am pressing charges obviously.

The ratbag apparently said the other kit was "too bulky" to carry, so they dumped threw it out the car window on the way back to Luton using country roads, so I'll likely never see it again. As for the phone, he said he didn't know.

Just the knife is a big relief. And hangover isn't bad...Nothing a fry up can't fix.

If I haven't said it before. Thank God for the police

Good news!
I hope the rest of your kit finds its way home too :)
And I hope all the scrotes get what they deserve - which is more than the Court will give them!
 
Great news Carl, hopefully he'll roll on his compatriots and they'll all get what's coming. Especially glad you got your Kristoknife back.
Lordy lawks its a Christmas miracle! :D
Happy for you and excellent, speedy work from the Police in getting one of the little gits responsible.
Hope you have a great Christmas sir.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.
 
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