Foreword

Bucharest is safe no longer

By Vivid writer: Andrew Begg

A vicious, cowardly attack leads us to reconsider our personal security

Posted: 07/12/2009

Perhaps the most regrettable, unwelcome aspect of Romania's continual embracing of all things occidental is a concomitant rise in street crime.

One of Bucharest's most attractive features is that it has always felt safe to walk around in, no matter the time of day or night. Invariably, people from other cities in other countries have found it thus, and there are simple reasons why this is so. Romanians are not aggressive, intimidating or confrontational by nature, and neither the tedious drinking culture that bedevils Anglo-Saxon societies, nor the ridiculous gun culture that plagues the US, exists here. Admittedly, it has been men who repeat this mantra more frequently than women, but you don't hear it as often as you used. Perhaps the most regrettable, unwelcome aspect of Romania's continual embracing of all things occidental is a concomitant rise in street crime, which has been increasing in the last several years. It is still nothing like as intimidating here as other capital cities - where discarded syringes lying in gutters and broken glass from smashed car windows are a regular sight - but it is unswervingly heading in that direction.

Many people were appalled and unsettled to learn that Marina Sturdza was savagely beaten during a short walk between the Athenee Palace Hilton and Bulevard Magheru recently. The mugging, which put Marina in hospital for longer than a week, required multiple stitches to a cut at the back of her head and skin grafts on her leg below her knee where her assailants had beaten her repeatedly with wooden planks. So its clear that they had wanted to do serious damage, not just relieve her of her purse. The attack is even more poignant because Marina Sturdza is one of the most giving people you could possibly meet, and sits on numerous boards of charities. Earlier that evening she had delivered a strong, well-argued and memorable keynote speech at the Edelweiss Ball.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of all was that her assailants were children, and products of, police said, similarly lawless parents. Children who hang around international hotels are notorious for attempting to pickpocket what they believe to be hotel guests out for a stroll, and if you're a man they are a nuisance, not really a threat. Had it been a man they may have tried to pickpocket him. But this assault was vicious, relentless and premeditated, and in another category altogether.

In London, police have the power to ensure that children that are walking the streets unsupervised by an adult after a particular hour are sent home. The police here say there is only so much they can do. Until appropriate legislation is implemented it would be wise therefore to be that little bit more vigilant when walking around Bucharest at night. I for one never really hesitated, but Marina's attack and sheer common sense should prompt everyone to rethink their personal security.

Comments:

1.

Monday 04th January 2010 at 16:01

Jim O'Toole said:

"Of course, one should be aware of the possibility of pickpockets or personal attacks. However, as a visitor to the beautiful city of Bucharest, I am far more concerned with the out of control driving, displayed by many aggressive drivers. Some are exceeding 150 kmph or more on main streets without any fear of the traffic police, who are not to be seen. That is why 8 or more people are killed every day in Romania. This wild west style of driving is disgusting and truly reflects on all Romanians. Shame on all of the irresponsible drivers in Bucharest. You are worse then spoiled children."

2.
Wednesday 20th January 2010 at 10:01 Bill Sidwell said: "Discarged syringes are a regular sight for me. In the last year I've had to pick up used syringes from outside my block's front gate so no children get injured or worse."

3.

Thursday 21st January 2010 at 06:01

Anon said:

"Attacks like this are nothing new. I was attacked and robbed myself shortly after arriving in Romania in 2004, whilst walking from a restaurant to the nearest taxi rank. A friend of mine was stabbed in the stomach by some drunk lads hanging out on a street corner back in 2005 or thereabouts. Another guy I know lost his finger during a fight with someone who followed him home to his block and attempted to steal his mp3 player. That was in 2005. To be perfectly honest, I've felt a lot safer in the last couple of years, since elements of the criminal community have moved to havest richer pickling in the west of Europe."

4.

Friday 12th February 2010 at 16:02

mishtone said:

"As a Romanian, I cannot agree with the characterisation of my fellow countrymen as being "not aggressive, intimidating or confrontational by nature". This can mostly be seen in the Bucharest traffic, where any respectable driver has an arsenal of swearings and a baseball bat within reach. Fortunately, these arguments rarely leave the verbal realm, but the aggresivity and confrontational site can be noticed in many daily interactions that one has with the public at large: at the market, in the public transport, when dealing with state institutions etc. On the good side, what Romania lacks compared to some neighbouring countries is less organised crime, but Romanians are by no means South-East Asians in their spirit ;)"

5.

Wednesday 17th February 2010 at 16:02

Diana Kassas said:

"It is honestly upsetting to hear such horrible things about Bucharest. After 1989, after the revolution people finally got freedom, it is true we have abused of this freedom but you can't expect a country to change drastically in 20 years nor can you expect it to be safe anywhere during an economical crisis especially considering more than half of Romania's population is poor. Things are bad its true but we should look on the bright side and consider that the united stated at night is much more dangerous than Romania will ever be (take new york for example). It will take time for us to be at the same level of developed EU countries but we will get there, for now too much corruption exists but scaring people about Romania will definitely not help, you need to be careful anywhere and everywhere."