Nearly always, they just want to get your stuff and GTFO, so let them have it/give it to them. Try not to seem threatening and try not to startle them, because theyβre scared & jumpy and running on adrenaline, too.
this post was submitted on 02 Jan 2026
13 points (88.2% liked)
Asklemmy
51910 readers
317 users here now
A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions
Search asklemmy π
If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!
- Open-ended question
- Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
- Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
- Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
- An actual topic of discussion
Looking for support?
Looking for a community?
- Lemmyverse: community search
- sub.rehab: maps old subreddits to fediverse options, marks official as such
- !lemmy411@lemmy.ca: a community for finding communities
~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~
founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
Ex-UK police (risk of armed robbery here is vanishingly low).
Comply. Just hand over what they ask for. Get a good look at their face/clothing (especially their shoes which are generally going to be unique and difficult to change whilst running away).
If you decide to fight back you risk getting beaten/stabbed/shot, then you'll make a heroic victim, but you'll still lose all your shit regardless.
If you're in your home then arm yourself, barricade yourself in a room and call for help. Again, you can try and mount a defence but at the end of the day stuff and things can be replaced. Unless they've broken in with the intention of doing you or a family member physical harm then all you lose by hiding/escaping is a tv or a PlayStation.
The first defense is always run away if you can. If you can't run away, give them what they want. If they seem intent on killing you regardless, then you might as well fight. Get some DNA under your nails to help the DA convict them after they find your body.
Personally, I've always just been monstrously large with a resting murder face. That tends to encourage people to take their violence elsewhere, but it's the kind of trick most people can't utilize.
If you think there's a real concern, get some self-defense training. Learning how to fight at a good school could help your confidence and preparedness. However, I'll point out that any good martial arts school will also tell you that rule one is run away if you can. There's no defense better than not being there.
Well robberies are very rare. No one says they they thwarted a mugging last week, plus really dangerous places are like a few blocks big, so you could just walk or drive around the worst of the worst.
If you robbed in your house, I'd just say lock whatever door your in and call the cops, robberies tend to be quick so they'll go after what's easy.
If you're mugged is suggest looking your mugger in the face, talking casually, or comply with their demands.
play dead
Old advice I heard but never had to use, when handing over your wallet/purse, throw it away from you/robber and then book it the other way... they're after the goods, not you.