This is from LA Triathlon forum.. It did not happen to me..


Last Sunday, April 6th at 5:30pm I was running west on the Ballona Creek bikepath. Just after I passed under the 405, a kid (maybe 16 yrs old) jumped out and lunged at a passing bike that was coming east. I wasn't sure what the kid was trying to do, but the bike kept on going, so I continued running. Then I heard some kind of electronic "click-click-click" noises behind me as I ran. I turned around, and saw that the kid was trying to jab
me with what looked like a stun gun. He said "You got any money?" I said I didn't and took off, and he gave up the chase.

I didn't have a cell phone, and I continued on my run. When I returned through the same area an hour later, he was gone. Afterward, I went to the LAPD station on Culver Blvd. and made a report.

I know there was an email that went around a couple weeks ago that mentioned someone having their iPod stolen not far from where this happened. So, we all need to be aware of this situation and be careful when using the Ballona
Creek bikepath; but we also need to report to the police any incidents that occur there. Otherwise, the situation will get worse and we will lose this terrific place to run and ride our bikes.

If you see or experience anything, please call the LAPD at (310) 482-6334 and report it. If the police don't know there is a problem, they can't fix it. The officers I spoke to were very interested in helping, and may even
do some jogging patrols. So, be aware and be careful - but do not surrender.

Jim Bender