Mugged in Orlando

[Visionz]

A few years ago, before I ever owned a gun, I was jogging in the Orlando area. I was visiting a friend slightly unfamiliar with the area. It was nighttime. As I jogged down the side of the road, I noticed behind me there was a car with it's headlights on slowing down behind me. Immediately I had a sense some stuff was about to go down.
The car stopped and two guys got out, one about my size and the other slightly shorter and more muscular. The shorter guy approached me and acted like he knew me. I knew this was just a distraction to keep my eyes off the other guy. I turned to my side to look behind me and BAMMM, I got hit in the side of the face with a brick. I went down to the ground and popped back up. I wasn't about to fight them, but I was pissed. My exact words to them were "Shit, was that really neccessary? You could have asked and I would have given you my wallet. I am not that fucking stupid to fight two men at once."
I threw my wallet at them and told them to go to town on my credit cards and I would call the bank in the morning. They fumbled through my wallet, asked if I had cash, and when I responded no, they called me an asshole and threw my wallet back at me.
A few chipped teeth and a sore jaw later, and I decided to carry protection. I look back though and wonder, besides carrying protection, what could I have done different.
Suggestions on what I did wrong and what I did right in this scenario are welcome. I would like to know your thoughts.

[crypto]

Even without a gun, carry a bright light. I've had the '2 guys cross the street to follow me, thats kinda weird" spidey sense tingle before, and I turned around and lit them up and told them that was close enough. Without a word or complaint they turned around.

Your situational awareness was sound, but your lack of action is what got you. Always have a plan.

[Regular Guy]

Fuck, sorry that happened. Pepper spray is mandatory in states I can't CC.

[RepoMan73]

About the only thing you could have done was keep your distance. I'd have crossed the street or cut off the road if I had a hinky feeling about them. Heck, you were jogging so why not sprint for a minute?

[majorhavoc]

You didn't do anything wrong. I can't blame you for being pissed off for getting bricked though. Once they have you, the mugging is supposed to essentially become a transaction. They threaten violence, you provide them with your wallet so they don't act on that threat. Everyone walks away, albeit one party much more satisfied than the other. Clobbering you first was uncalled for.

The only reason I can see they felt a need to brain you with the brick is because you were out jogging and they didn't have a firearm on them. They probably felt that either they couldn't, or didn't feel like, trying to chase you down if you bolted.

I had a similar experience just outside Disneyland in Anaheim. A car pulled up behind me and one guy got out. He and his gun were in my face before I even knew want was really happening. Even if I had a gun on me, it would have been a stupid risk to try to draw him down when he already had his weapon trained on me. The 50 bucks in my wallet would have been a stupid thing to lose a life for.

Like I said: a mugging is a transaction. Unless you have a lot (and I mean a lot) of training in close quarters fighting, the only prudent way to interrupt that transaction is to spot the threat while it is far enough away to take action. Once they're in close with you, you just give the guy the money.

[Steve74]

I was attacked several times. Hits in the face, kick in the head, knife threats. Fortunately I never got seriously injured.

[Kiwi Bowhunter]

Over here the chances of anyone carrying a firearm is very, very small.
Knives, slightly more likely. But every time I've encountered on, the person has shown it, more as an intimidation thing.

2 guys makes the situation more complicated. Not much more you could have done. Maybe jog up a driveway as if it was your house? I've walked up a driveway before when I knew someone was following me, but while there was still enough distance for them not to be able to run right up behind me.

Again, it's probably easier if they look really serious(such as hit you in the face with a brick), to just give them the small amount of cash you have. Credit cards can be cancelled, and their use can be tracked so if those are taken it's win-win, they might even catch the person.

Basically not getting killed or seriously injured is a good result IMO.

Cheers,
Sean.

[VinnieD]

Well if nothing else you probably gave them a good scare when you got back up from a bricking and proceeded to lecture them on proper mugging etiquite.