Hello all, I wanted to warn all residents that violent muggings are taking place in the E.D area, and for people to take extra care whilst walking home at night, especially those walking alone. At about 4am this morning I was walking back from a friends house in Peckham after celebrating an essay deadline (I am a 23 year old male). After turning onto Goodrich road from Barry Road, I was wheeling my bike along the pavement toward Dunstans and heard scooters approaching behind me. One drove up onto the pavement behind and another approached me from the road. I was immediately told to hand over my phone, and a second later was punched in the face, leaving cuts in several places around my eye. Two of the guys then tried to pull the ring off my finger (which is my grandfathers), rifled through my pockets stealing my bank cards, oyster and phone, and was punched in the face several times again, hitting my temple. There were 4 guys, two on each scooter. All mixed raced and probably between the ages of 16-20. Wearing black clothing and neck gators to conceal their faces. Someone then attempted to pull me onto the ground by pulling down my rucksack. I held onto a wall and luckily stayed upright, because I'm sure my injuries would be a lot worse and probably have taken a kicking to the face. My bag that contained my laptop and all my university work was pulled off my back and stolen. They dropped my house keys and passport on the ground so these guys obviously aren't smart or significant crooks, as passports are worth a lot of money on the black market. The two mopeds drove up Goodrich and then right onto Dunstans Road, leaving me to call the police and a trip to the hospital to sort my cut and swollen face up. The police, and then the paramedics at Denmark Hill Hospital, told me that someone ele had also been mugged and physically assaulted at knife point near Peckham Rye park about an hour prior to this occurring. While I was being treated the paramedics/nurses then received another call to tell them that a THIRD person had been violently assaulted and was coming in to be treated. I saw the boy who came in and he looked a lot worse off than me- with a broken nose and said that he had been kicked around. I am absolutely certain that it is the same group of boys. It is unusual that a group of people who are looking to steal from someone would also physically assault so quickly and violently, being unprovoked. It could be a showing-off facade to older boys in the gang. Of course the police can't and didn't do anything in the short term, so there is no doubt in my mind that these guys will be back again after such a 'successful' night. The police cannot give chase to scooters as it puts other passengers, and the sccoter driver at risk, so these scumbags know they can get away with it. ***it was a large red and black rucksack, a small camping style design. If a anyone has seen it anywhere PLEASE message me- I have university work in there that it invaluable to me right now as I'm in my third and final year.*** I urge everyone to take care and keep an eye out for people on scooters- to avoid walking home alone at night, and for everyone to keep an eye out for each other. I realise that's hard at 2am but this is an extremely high risk area according to the police, the target of robbery and burglary, but we can all do what we can and stay vigilant. I am just glad it didn't happen to my girlfriend who I also live with along with other third year students, both male and female. Although I don't think that these people are targeting woman, they are obviously pretty sick people and desperate for what they can take. Be safe, Andrew
