Self-defence in the News - No. 42

Bucket of chilli floors takeaway robber at Rosebery

http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/bucket-of-chilli-floors-takeaway-robber-at-rosebery/story-e6frflri-1226635697905

Taylor Auerbach

May 06, 2013

Adil holding tray of the chili his co-worker threw on a man allegedly trying to rob the Rosebery takeaway shop. Picture: Kelly Fedor/Twitter

AN alleged would-be thief was left red-faced, literally, last night after he was foiled by a quick-thinking employee and bucket of chilli. 

  The 24-year-old Tempe man allegedly attempted to snatch money from a cash register in a Rosebery takeaway store after he became embroiled in an argument with two employees around 6.30pm.

One of the staff members, a 40-year-old man, ran to the front of the store and called police while his 27-year-old female colleague tussled with the man.

After smashing the cash register open on the floor, the man hit the woman across the chest as she attempted to thwart his alleged robbery attempt.

She then threw a nearby bucket of chilli over his head, instantly flooring him.
Police arrived within minutes and arrested the man.

He was taken to Mascot police station where he received treatment for minor burns and was charged with assault with intent to rob.

He was denied bail and will appear in Waverly local court later today.

Self-defence in the News - No. 41

'Predator mode' scares off burglars 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8626910/Predator-mode-scares-off-burglars 

HARRY PEARL  

03/05/2013

BRUCE MERCER/Fairfax NZ

CHASED BURGLARS: Aiya Van Kooten wasn't about to let burglars escape when they entered her home.



When Aiya Van Kooten stood face-to-face with a burglar in her bedroom, her left eye twitched, then she went into "predator mode".

"I screamed at him... jumped off my chair, leaped over my bed and sprinted after him down the stairs," she said.

The 20-year-old student was studying at her Dinsdale, Hamilton, home when two burglars entered through an unlocked door last Saturday at about 5.30pm.

"There were two of them; they were about 17-years-old. I said: you've robbed the wrong house."
Although she was the only one home, Van Kooten said she had no regard for her safety - instead, she said she was just overwhelmed with "rage".

"I just thought these guys are in my house, this is breaking the law... I'm gonna get you."

Van Kooten, who lives with her grandmother, said she chased the pair outside, where she managed to "boot one of them up the arse" before they clambered over her fence and into an adjacent paddock.
"They dropped the laptop and camera - I didn't realise they were carrying it."

Although she had a towel wrapped around her head, and no shoes on her feet, she didn't give up the chase.

After pushing though the back gate of the property, she chased the pair on to the road and then flagged down a passing SUV.

The driver decided to help and, with Ms Van Kooten inside the vehicle, pursued the offenders through the neighbourhood streets until the burglars ended up at Bremworth Park.

While Van Kooten, the driver and a member of the public - who she described as looking like an "ex-military man" - scoured the park for the pair, police arrived.

"All of sudden we saw the police car speed up and head down the street.

"We ran down there and the military guy had one of the robbers pinned down to the ground and the police came and got him."

Van Kooten was a victim of one of 78 burglaries in Hamilton between Anzac Day and 6am Monday morning.

Yesterday, she had a video conference with one of the offenders and several other burglary victims of the teen.

"He had a bad attitude at first, but he started to realise the impact of what he was doing."

Far from consigning the event to the past, Van Kooten asked whether the offender would be willing to see her again so she could help him with his rehabilitation.

He agreed, reluctantly, and she is set to visit him at a correctional facility in Rotorua in the next few months.

© Fairfax NZ News

Anzac Day

Yes, we are training tonight.

Easter

Training Saturday (30th of March) and Monday (1st of April) as usual.

Senior wing chun men.

Left to right: Brent, Hadrian, Mike.

Self-defence in the News - No. 40

Dog saves owner from armed sex attack 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8350288/Dog-saves-owner-from-armed-sex-attack 

JOELLE DALLY

26/02/2013

 

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Fairfax NZ

SAVIOUR: A Christchurch teenager believes she could have been killed in a sexually motivated attack in a Burnside park if her dog had not come to her aid and attacked the man.



A Christchurch woman was saved from a vicious sexually motivated attack by the loyal dog she adopted only two months ago.

The 19-year-old believes she survived only because her dog leaped on the attacker, biting him on the neck or shoulder.

The woman told The Press her 13-month-old german-shepherd-greyhound-border-collie cross's intervening allowed her to run away and flag down a passing car.

The attack took place in Jellie Park, Burnside, about 1.50am on Sunday.

Police do not believe it is related to another sexually motivated attack on a 14-year-old near Colombo St on Friday night.

No arrests have been made for either incident. The 19-year-old had just been dropped off at her home near Burnside Park when the dog took off out the door.

She chased after him, staying close to the road but as she came near some bushes she was grabbed by a man and dragged into the dark.

She still has no idea how long the ordeal went on. At first she froze and believes she blacked out when her head hit the ground.

When she came to, "instinct kicked in". She fought back, kicking the man in the groin and scratching at his face while trying to protect herself. She tried to gouge his eyes. She thought he was hitting her with his phone, but it was in fact a weapon.

"He was cutting me with something, but I had no pain. All the blood, I thought, was sweat or tears. I was yelling for help and screaming at some points. I thought, 'If I'm going to die I might as well fight back.' "

Her attacker did not utter a word. When she kicked and scratched him, he made only "creepy" grunty noises.

"It was like he couldn't feel it," she said.

She suffered numerous cuts to her face, hands and arms, but believes her injuries would have been worse if the dog had not come to her aid.

She said he ran over and "leaped on the guy", biting him and dragging him away.

"I could hear him growling. I didn't look back. I ran straight to the road.

"I don't think I'd be here if [he] didn't do that."

Police believe the attacker went up a slide to get away from the dog.

The woman said she had not slept since the attack - "every time I shut my eyes I relive it" - but wanted to speak out to warn other women.

She is confident police will find her attacker, described as a male European with dark facial stubble.

She believes he had been hiding in the bushes waiting for a potential victim. "I see people cut through [the park] all the time. If it wasn't me, it would have been some girl without a dog."

She said her dog has stayed beside her ever since the ordeal.

"He's an amazing dog. It was a horrible thing, but I could have got murdered in a park."

About 9.30pm on Friday, a 14-year-old was attacked and pulled into bushes in Walton St close to Colombo St. She suffered bruising but no other serious injuries.

Anyone with information on either attack should phone Detective Greg Dalziel on (03) 363 7899 or phone the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111. 

- © Fairfax NZ News

Mike

Top wing chun man, Mike, at home with his mistress.....

Self-defence in the News - No. 39

Woman fights off attacker by river 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8282879/Woman-fights-off-attacker-by-river 

SALLY KIDSON  

09/02/2013

Police are praising the courage of a Nelson woman who fought off an attacker after being grabbed from behind on the Maitai Walkway.

Officers are increasing patrols in the Queen's Gardens area following the incident, the second violent attack on a woman in the area in less than a week.

Early last Sunday morning, an 18-year-old woman was raped in Queen's Gardens.

In the latest incident, only about 100 metres away from the gardens, a woman in her 40s was grabbed about 10pm on Thursday. Police said the attack appeared to be sexually motivated.

The woman was walking home when she was dragged under the Normanby Bridge, where there was a violent struggle.

Acting Nelson Bays area commander Inspector Ross Lienert said she suffered bruises and scrapes, but managed to fight off her attacker and get away.

Mr Lienert said the woman showed "real courage", punching the offender to break free. He could have visible injuries as a result.

"There could be bruising around his face.

"She has been subjected to a number of punches, but she's managed to land a few of her own and escape from the attacker. She's done extremely well under the circumstances. It is apparent from the description of the incident that the attack was sexually motivated," he said.

The offender was described as Caucasian, about 170cm (5ft 7in) tall. He was of medium build, with short hair, and was thought to be in his 20s. He was wearing dark blue baggy jeans which had a tear on the seat, and a grey, long-sleeved hoodie with a zip up the front.

The hood was up, and had a light-coloured lining and a small tear. There was dark writing on the front of the hoodie.

Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, and anyone who may be able to help identify the attacker.

They would also like to hear from anyone who may have experienced a similar incident but has not yet reported it to the police.

Mr Lienert said police were not ruling out the possibility that Thursday's attack was linked to last Sunday's rape, as they both involved women on their own in the same part of town. "We don't want to categorically say that there's a link, but certainly we've got to look at that option."

Police would be going door to door and speaking with residents in the area today, he said, and staff would be carrying out high-profile foot patrols.

"We want to assure people that live in that area that they are safe. Until this person is located, we will have a presence there."

Mr Lienert advised people against walking alone in the area, and said they should call police immediately if they thought they might know who the attacker was, or saw someone who fitted the description. "We want to catch this person as soon as possible."

The earlier attack happened about 1am last Sunday in Queen's Gardens, near the public toilet.
The 18-year-old victim had been at the Little Rock Bar in Bridge St, and had stopped to call a taxi. She was grabbed from behind before she could make the call.

Police said she was raped, but the offender was frightened off by the sound of people in the area.

The victim described the offender as skinny, aged 20 to 25, and Caucasian with short-cropped hair.

On New Year's Day, a 62-year-old woman was raped at the Victory Community Gardens.

Nelson fisheries worker Hilton Hone-Heke has been charged with a number of offences in relation to that rape and assault. He is in custody.

Information on either attack in the Queen's Gardens area can be given by calling Nelson police, ph 546 3840, or anonymously through Crimestoppers, 0800 555 111.

- © Fairfax NZ News

 

Look who popped in...

... My sifu, Master Kevin Earle.

Saturday class with Kevin, Brent, Chris, Ange, Hadrian, Mike, Tony, Moo, and me.

Ange, Hadrian, Brent, and Mike.

Brent & Kevin.

Mike & Kevin.

Chris & Kevin.

Left to right: Chris, Kevin, Brent, Anthony, Hadrian, and Mike -- at Southern Wing Chun.

Self-defence in the News - No. 38

Women in India



New Zealand Herald