Heads Up: Mugging on Sherman Avenue

Dear PoPville,

I was walking back to my house in Columbia Heights on Sherman Avenue last weekend at around 2 AM and was mugged. I was alone, but because I was sober and only going a few blocks I assumed I would be fine (a mistake of becoming too comfortable in the neighborhood after a couple of years). I was caught completely off guard because my attackers were two females who appeared to be in their early 20s (I’m a female as well). They initially approached me to ask for a cigarette. After walking another block I heard someone behind me and saw the two females again. I asked if they needed help with something else; my initial thought was they must have seen something that made them uncomfortable and walked back towards me to ask for help. At this point they knocked me to the ground and pepper sprayed me before taking my purse.

A cab appeared then and I was able to deal with the situation fairly quickly. Props to the cops as well for being very responsive and helpful. I doubt this will be the last time these women attempt to attack and rob someone. The cops told me women mugging other women is not unusual, but this has not happened to any of my friends in the area before, and I truly was not expecting it.