It finally happened - some stupid mongrel tried to steal my hat right off my head. Those guys carrying machine guns are never around when you need them…

Was just getting some dinner from a street cafe when a guy grabbed my hat after a few comments about me being Australian. I asked for it back and he did not hand it over. I took a step toward him and he took one back. I took another step and he took another back. Decided to just sprint a couple of metres at him, but he was a little quicker and took off down the street.

I took off after him and ran him down in about 3/4 of a block but then I did not quite know what to do. Tried to just grab the hat but it was held in front of him so I had to quickly think about that dreaded game of AFL football and the best way to tackle someone. After a few seconds (seemed like much longer at the time), I went for the “late tackle” method I used to employ in friendly games of soccer at high school. With the exception that instead of falling on my side and dragging him to his side, I just threw him so he was under me since I did not want to land on cobblestones…

Crashed to the ground and I thought that would be it, but when I got up and grabbed my hat, he was getting up as well. The hat was fine, so I put it back on my head, expressed a few nasty feelings toward him and departed.

Only made it about 10 metres when I heard him right behind me again, clearly going for the hat once more. I turned around just as I estimated he was close enough and stuck both arms in front of me with fists clenched. For the record; this is NOT a good defense tactic, since it bloody near ripped my arms off with the impact…

Stopped him though, and I grabbed him by the shoulder and threw him out into the street. Was not intending to do so but he fell off the gutter and went backward on the ground just - of course - as four police officers came around the corner and saw me do that. Two grabbed me and two grabbed the other guy since they did not really know what was happening but wanted it to stop quickly…

Luckily for me, since they spoke hardly any English, a guy who saw me tackle the thief came to my aid and translated for me. He also was my witness and I have no idea what he said, but it clearly was favourable, since the police let me go with a warning not to do it again, and the other guy got told off as well, but no charges laid.

Pity. It means he has not gotten in trouble with the law now, but hopefully he won’t be targetting the Aussie tourists for a while - probably thinks we really are a nation of Crocodile Dundee’s now…*grin*

I was trying to explain my innocence to the police afterward but the guy who was my witness/translator advised me to just depart quickly before they changed their minds, so I did. Got back to the hotel room and Di asked where I’d been and whether getting dinner had been a challenge…

Why do they always find me???

Categories: Travel, Odyssey 2001, SPOTD