You’re sitting on the subway. Suddenly, a note is thrust into your hands. The writer claims to have guns pointed at you and insists that you hand over your belongings. What would you do?
Monday’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train mugging was unusual.
The intended victim, Julie Dragland, defied expectations and outwitted her attacker. She’s a total badass. One minute she’s cruising home on the train and it’s just a normal day, and the next, she’s fighting for her life.
“There are 2 guns pointed at you now. If you want to live hand back your wallet + phone NOW + do not turn around and be descreet (sp). Do not turn around until after you have left Civic Center + you will live,” reads the note given to Julie.
Instead of complying, she launched into action. She didn’t openly defy the note, instead, she began thrashing around in her seat.
“So I… if I fake a seizure or fake like I’m passing out, I’m not even not complying,” she explained. “I’m scared and reacting so, I started slumped over to the left and started shaking and people started to notice and they’re like, ‘Are you okay? Are you okay?’”
The would-be thief was spooked and fled before anyone could stop her. Surveillance footage released by police shows that Julie’s attacker was an older white woman with a dark suitcase.
Julie saved herself by her quick thinking. The suspect shown on surveillance doesn’t look like she was armed, but there’s no way to tell. If she had had a gun she might have started using it if Julie had enraged her.
Faking a seizure or a panic attack draws unwanted to attention to the perpetrator without forcing you to openly defy his or demands.
Police are still searching for Julie’s attacker.
(Source: New York Post)