One of the Victim Service’s most experienced male volunteers went to visit a young man who had been a victim of a crime.   Two men had followed the young man off a bus, then held him up at knife-point to steal his expensive jacket which had been a Christmas present from his Mother.   Thankfully the young man had had the presence of mind to remove his iPod and mobile phone into a trouser pocket when he saw the two thieves approach him and he did not lose them.

It may sound a routine crime, but the effect on this young man was terrible.  He was scared to leave the house, convinced that the thieves would target him again.  The Victim Support volunteer had to explain to him repeatedly that the thieves were opportunistic and would not be back.  It didn’t help that the robbery had taken place so close to the young man’s house, as he had become convinced that it was personal, and that they knew where he lived.  The victim’s mother was filled with anger, blaming herself for buying the jacket for her son, and blaming him for wearing it on the street.

The Victim Support volunteer kept in touch with the victim for a few weeks, visiting him twice in his home, trying to persuade him that the robbery was not personal, and that he would be safe to go back out.   The volunteer even suggested that he walk him round the corner to the shops, just to show him that he was safe.

Because of the volunteer’s experience and knowledge of crime, criminals and criminal behaviour, he was eventually able to persuade the victim to leave the house again.