July 11, 2007
Dana Borcea
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 11, 2007)
A 13-year-old Georgetown boy visited Hamilton's Beach Strip with his family last week expecting some fun in the sun.
Instead he got mugged in a swarming.
Mitchell Davison was riding his new bicycle up the waterfront trail Saturday when the afternoon suddenly turned terrifying.
A teen he described as around 16 rode up alongside him and said he was having trouble breathing. He asked Mitchell if he had a cellphone he could use to ask for help. Mitchell slowed down and said he didn't.
"I thought he was in trouble," said Mitchell, who soon realized otherwise. The youth laid his bike down and walked out in front of Mitchell. He told him to get off his bike.
Instead, Mitchell -- who had just received the new 21-speed mountain bike as an early birthday present from his parents -- grabbed the handlebars and said no. He held on even as the youth began to shove him and try to shake him off the bike.
But Mitchell soon realized he was outnumbered when the boy was joined by four more teens who formed a line in front of Mitchell. And as they cycled away, pulling Mitchell's bicycle, the thief turned around to utter one last threat: "If you tell anyone you're dead."
Mitchell's mother Julie said she's grateful her son wasn't physically hurt but said the incident left her family shaken and in no rush to return to Steeltown.
"We've rehashed it over and over again and don't know what we could have done differently," she said, adding the trail was busy with joggers and in-line skaters. "It's not like we sent him down a dark alley."
The mugging is the latest in a string of recent attacks by groups of youths. On Friday night, a 15-year-old girl was swarmed by a large group of teens she didn't know in Montgomery Park in the city's east end.
She was thrown to the ground, kicked in the face and threatened.
And on June 30, a man stabbed a teen in an apparent act of self-defence after being swarmed in a quiet Mountain neighbourhood by a group of youths. Police said the confrontation was set off when the man tried to stop the boys from stealing some kids' bikes.
Like the attack on Mitchell, most of these incidents appear to be unorganized and many involve a theft.
Police stop short of calling the youth swarmings a trend but acknowledge it's a relatively new phenomenon.
Mountain police launched a special project last winter to tackle the problem after a spike in reported street muggings involving youth. They made 29 arrests and laid 49 charges. Police Superintendent Ken Bond described the "cowardly" swarmings as mostly random and spontaneous.
"It's certainly a crime of opportunity," he said, adding that MP3 players are a favourite target.
Bond added a connection could possibly be made between a spike in group muggings and the rising popularity of flashy personal electronics. "They're usually after something."
Tips for youth:
Avoid becoming a target by keeping electronic and other expensive equipment out of sight
Whenever possible, try to avoid travelling alone
Tips for bystanders:
Call 911 immediately
Do not place yourself in harm's way
Let culprits know that police are on their way
dborcea@thespec.com
905-526-3214
Photo- Kaz Novak, the Hamilton Spectator
Mitchell Davison was swarmed by teens and had his bike stolen. He's looking at his brother's bike, which is the same.
Dana Borcea
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 11, 2007)
A 13-year-old Georgetown boy visited Hamilton's Beach Strip with his family last week expecting some fun in the sun.
Instead he got mugged in a swarming.
Mitchell Davison was riding his new bicycle up the waterfront trail Saturday when the afternoon suddenly turned terrifying.
A teen he described as around 16 rode up alongside him and said he was having trouble breathing. He asked Mitchell if he had a cellphone he could use to ask for help. Mitchell slowed down and said he didn't.
"I thought he was in trouble," said Mitchell, who soon realized otherwise. The youth laid his bike down and walked out in front of Mitchell. He told him to get off his bike.
Instead, Mitchell -- who had just received the new 21-speed mountain bike as an early birthday present from his parents -- grabbed the handlebars and said no. He held on even as the youth began to shove him and try to shake him off the bike.
But Mitchell soon realized he was outnumbered when the boy was joined by four more teens who formed a line in front of Mitchell. And as they cycled away, pulling Mitchell's bicycle, the thief turned around to utter one last threat: "If you tell anyone you're dead."
Mitchell's mother Julie said she's grateful her son wasn't physically hurt but said the incident left her family shaken and in no rush to return to Steeltown.
"We've rehashed it over and over again and don't know what we could have done differently," she said, adding the trail was busy with joggers and in-line skaters. "It's not like we sent him down a dark alley."
The mugging is the latest in a string of recent attacks by groups of youths. On Friday night, a 15-year-old girl was swarmed by a large group of teens she didn't know in Montgomery Park in the city's east end.
She was thrown to the ground, kicked in the face and threatened.
And on June 30, a man stabbed a teen in an apparent act of self-defence after being swarmed in a quiet Mountain neighbourhood by a group of youths. Police said the confrontation was set off when the man tried to stop the boys from stealing some kids' bikes.
Like the attack on Mitchell, most of these incidents appear to be unorganized and many involve a theft.
Police stop short of calling the youth swarmings a trend but acknowledge it's a relatively new phenomenon.
Mountain police launched a special project last winter to tackle the problem after a spike in reported street muggings involving youth. They made 29 arrests and laid 49 charges. Police Superintendent Ken Bond described the "cowardly" swarmings as mostly random and spontaneous.
"It's certainly a crime of opportunity," he said, adding that MP3 players are a favourite target.
Bond added a connection could possibly be made between a spike in group muggings and the rising popularity of flashy personal electronics. "They're usually after something."
Tips for youth:
Avoid becoming a target by keeping electronic and other expensive equipment out of sight
Whenever possible, try to avoid travelling alone
Tips for bystanders:
Call 911 immediately
Do not place yourself in harm's way
Let culprits know that police are on their way
dborcea@thespec.com
905-526-3214
Photo- Kaz Novak, the Hamilton Spectator
Mitchell Davison was swarmed by teens and had his bike stolen. He's looking at his brother's bike, which is the same.