gair rhydd
FREE
ISSUE 842 MAY 14 2007
CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972
Ludicrous costumes, transvestites and
bad music…
gair rhydd on the politics, points and pitfalls Page 6
MUGGED Joanna Dingle News Editor
PHOTO: James Perou
! Attacker threatens to slit student’s throat ! Victims now too scared to walk Cardiff ! Police warn of increased street robberies
A FEMALE STUDENT from Cardiff University was mugged at knifepoint last week while walking home on a well-lit street in the popular student area of Cathays, despite walking with another female friend. The third year students were returning home at approximately 10.45pm after visiting friends on Lisvane Street, when one of the women was attacked on Flora Street. The pair were walking down the middle of the road as they considered it to be ‘safer’ and the street lights ensured they could be seen. When they were nearing Fanny Street, they heard footsteps and one of the girls glanced around to see a young white man wearing a hooded tracksuit and white cap approaching them. She said: “He came up between us and said ‘give us your bags’ – I couldn’t believe what was happening, and we naturally split apart at which point he went after my friend. “He was holding her up against the house.” She continued: “I couldn’t see him, but he was so close to me and he held my upper body so I couldn’t move. “I felt something metal up against my face, and he said he’d slit my throat if I didn’t give him my bag. I was shouting really loudly – ‘take it, take it!’, and thankfully he did before running off in the direction of Cathays Terrace.” The women then went to Woodville
Fish Bar on Woodville Road to wait for the police to arrive. Following the incident the women have become very nervous about going out and they hope other students will be more cautious when walking home at any time of the day, as they feel it could happen to anyone at any time. One said: “I’m shocked at how easy it was. He wasn’t even that strong and he sounded very nervous.” The other added: “So many students, girls especially, are walking back from the library at maybe 11, 12 o’clock at night and they don’t understand how vulnerable they could be. “The fact that it happened on such an open street, that we weren’t even drunk, it wasn’t even that late, and we weren’t even alone – shows it could happen to anybody.” “We can’t assume Cathays is as safe as we all think it is. I never want to walk on my own again, even during the day.” Police student liaison officer, PC Bob Keohane, recommends that students always walk at night in groups and stick to main roads. He said: “There has been an increase in street robberies around Cardiff and it is a simple offence to commit. One that only takes a second. “I would recommend that female students wear bags across their bodies, and hide laptops away in rucksacks to avoid being the victim of opportunist thieves.” Health and Welfare Officer, Kate Marsh added: “I urge students to stay vigilant and to carry attack alarms which can be bought in the Union Shop for just £1.50.”