Mugging — Crime of Greed and Vicious Hostility and Indifference
| Author | L. F. Lowenstein |
| Date | 01 January 1980 |
| Published date | 01 January 1980 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8005300106 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
PROFESSOR
L. F. LOWENSTEIN, M.A., DIP.PSYCH.,
PH.D.
Chief Examiner, College
of
Preceptors. London.
and
Visiting
Professor University
of
Khartoum. Former Chief Educational
Psychologist
for
Hampshire.
MUGGING
-
CRIME
OF
GREED
AND
VICIOUS
HOSTILITY
AND
INDIFFERENCE
Mugger, Victim and Private
Citizen -Psychological Aspects
of
Mugging
A middle aged woman walked slowly along one of the streets
linking Kings Road, Chelsea, and Fulham Road. Her arms were
filled with shopping. It was daylight, autumn of 1977. Her mind was
filled with weariness and concern to get home before the burden in
her arms became too heavy. Her back ached and she carried her
pocket book containing purse, pension book,etc., precariously slung
above her shopping bag through her arm. She had worked all week
and had only about £18.00 after her weekly big shopping expense.
After her husband had died and she had been able to claim a pension
she decided to go on working to keep herself occupied.
About ahundred yards behind her three young men appeared to
be leisurely strolling. One wore a hat pulled towards one eye,another
a peaked cap and the third was bare headed. Two were black, the
other white. They seemed to be sauntering along, but gradually
approached their victim. Suddenly they ran when they noticed only a
very few pedestrians near her. In an instant, like a pack of dogs, they
were upon their victim. One bent down in front of her while one
pushed her over. The third grabbed the handbag, as it dropped and
began to pull the purse and flung everything away in all directions
except that purse. As the one who had bent down in front of her got
up, he kicked the woman in the stomach and head. Another kicked
the bags lying on the pavement. The whole incident lasted five
seconds from beginning to end.
Three to five passer-bys witnessed the attack, but no one came
forward to help.
It
was difficult to assess whether the attack was
witnessed because some of the passer-bys appeared "unwilling" to
look in the direction of the attack. Three of the five were men who
30 Police Journal January 1980
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