The kindness of strangers: a gang of scary-looking youths stepped in to save me from being mugged

<p>I was having some trouble getting the car door to open when I suddenly felt hands around my neck. A voice behind me said ‘give me your purse’</p><ul><li><p>Read more in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/series/kindness-of-strangers">Kindness of strangers</a> series</p></li></ul><p>Late one evening in 1986, I had stopped at the pub with some friends for what was meant to be one drink. We’d parked in a nearby supermarket car park and I’d left my dog in the backseat with the window rolled down, thinking we wouldn’t be gone long. As my friends continued drinking, I walked alone to fetch my dog, not wanting to leave him alone any longer.</p><p>I was having some trouble getting the car door to open when I suddenly felt hands around my neck. A voice behind me said “Give me your purse”. In the grip around my neck, I could feel something sharp, cool and metal against my skin.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/20/kindness-strangers-gang-youths-saved-me-mugged">Continue reading...</a>