posted 03/10/10 09:30 AM | updated 03/10/10 01:55 AM
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11-Year-Old Boy Robbed On Metro Bus

Police are investigating yet another unfortunate incident on a Metro bus after an 11-year-old boy was robbed in South Seattle last week.

According to a police report, the boy was on the problem-plagued #7 bus at about 7:30 p.m. on March 3rd when he pulled out his phone to read a text message.

A group of four or five black males, all 16-17 years old, approached the boy and told him to hand over his phone.

Although the group of teens did not make any specific threats, the boy told police he was afraid he would be hurt if he didn't give the teens his phone.

After the group of teens took the boy's phone, they got off the bus at Rainier Ave S and S Alaska St.

The boy told police he had never seen the teens before.

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Teen Robberies
This, unfortunately, does not surprise me. My 14 year old niece had a gold chain RIPPED off her neck on a Metro bus by two teens she did (vaguely) know.

Times like these are when the community needs to come together and stand up for our youth and for one another. Did none of the other riders speak up or give the boy some support to stand up to these teens? Probably not - they were probably afraid of being hurt or threatened themselves.

I have spoken up on buses before, dealt with racist and offensive riders, and been threatened by belligerent people for daring to speak up. That won't keep me from doing it, though. There is strength in numbers.

I'm glad that little boy wasn't hurt.
Comment by Liz
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
People are spineless pussies
If a couple of guys with boxcutters can hijack an entire plane full of people, I'm sure 5 dudes can rob a child in a bus full of roughly the same amount of people.

People are selfish, and as long as you're not inconveniencing them personally, will not do anything to prevent something like this. The person who takes action when it is someone else's rights/property/etc on the line is a rarity these days.

This story makes me sick.
Comment by JT
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil
This should be considered 'a WAKE-UP CALL'; maybe a blessing in disquise (?)... Sadly bad behavior/manners are unfortunately too
often observed, which in my view, our desensitized attitudes in society have no control to improve soon enough....Except when if a criminal conduct clearly unfolds right in front and aboard the
bus.......Please, maybe Metro drivers + riders need to be much more responsible and brave to Make a Stand to righteousness.
Comment by Linda Rachel Scrivanich
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
What was anyone supposed to do?
I'm big and strong and quick to anger but I'm not a fool. I see guys like this in my neighborhood spending hours at a time punching each other, learning how to cold cock someone. Even a little runt could get a big guy on his ass if the big guy didn't see it coming, and with five of them that's exactly how it would happen. And once you're on the ground they go Tuba Man on your head. Unless you're armed and with a clear plan of attack you're going to get stomped in this scenario.

People always go on about how these kids are cowards for traveling in packs, but cowardice doesn't even enter the picture. They're just predators, and it makes sense to move in a pack. Appealing to any sense of honor with low-IQ high-testosterone semi-feral predators will get you exactly nowhere.
Comment by croydonfacelift
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
ipod touch stolen after getting off the 7 bus
my grandson had the same thing happen to him on the number 7 bus
he is so special to me and the joy of my life. he was coming from school and on the number 7 bus going to and after school program. he got off of the bus at rainer and rose street and he was approached by some boys who asked him for the time and my grandson pulled out his ipod to give the boys the time and the boys slapped him in his face and stole his ipod touch and they ran. the police did a report and the fire department came and administard first aid. after this happened. we were scared for my grandsons safety at school as well as on metro bus going to an afterschool program from school. i dont live in seattle, but my grandson does and now I want to make a difference in making the community safe. thanks to mark solomon who got me in touch with different advocacy groups in rainer valley. I didnt even know such groups existed, I felt powerless until I found a voice though advocacy. it does not make any sense to me why now and even 2 months after the incident my grandson doesnt even want to take metro anymore. are our kids safe on these buses? it is the school district that gives our kids passes to take the bus strictly because they dont have any enough yellow buses to bus our kids to and from after school programs.
I want my grandson to feel that its safe to take the bus, anywhere he goes but its not safe.
we as a community must do something about this issue
where does someone else get the right to bully our kids~
lets get the power back
Comment by bj
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
Bus Safety Basics
bj I'm sorry to hear about your grandson and this boy in the story. Obviously more needs to be done to provide a safe travel environment for all riders in Seattle, especially in the RV.

I rode the 7 & other RV routes frequently from middle school up these are a few tips that don't guarantee safety just a safer ride.
1)By yourself or one friend? ride as close to the driver as possible or next to adults.
2)Tough older kids on the bus or at your stop? Stay on the bus until they're gone. Get off at a stop with an open grocery store/business or ride until the end of the route and it turns around. Call your parent/guardian to pick you up or that you'll be late.
3)Don't show other kids your phones or electronic devices. They could get the time from their own phone and they are trying to steal yours. Keep it in your backpack on the bus if kids are checking you out, even if you get a call or a message. If confronted hand it over. No phone is worth getting beat up.

Parents should consider how advanced a cell phone their child needs. A prepaid basic with texting covers most of their needs. iPhones are a stretch as a "necessity" for adults with jobs who pay their own bills. They make children and young teens targets. Sometimes you have to say no.
Comment by So Sea Resident
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
RE: Bus Safety Basics
good point you are making. thanks for replying and thanks for your suggestions.
these are all great tips!
all of your comments and concerns need to be shared with the rb coalition
Comment by bj
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
This is a Bernie Goetz situation waiting to happen...
...I guest that would satisfy all the wanna-be NYC'ers in this this burg.
Comment by Word
4 months ago
( 0 votes)
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