On their way to a Halloween party in 2023, three Grade 12 students were left terrified, not by costumes or fake blood, but because they were held at knifepoint on St. John’s Wood High Street.

One of the students, Johnny Aelong (’24), said when one of the masked figures grabbed him by the shirt and pulled out a 20-inch machete, he did not hesitate to oblige.

“We threw our phones on the floor, and our AirPods,” Aelong said. “We were walking away, and then looked back, and he said, ‘Why are you looking back?’ And then we started running.”

At the time, Aelong said the experience was “very traumatizing,” and he and his friends were quick to report it to the school.

“I was very scared,” Aelong said. “I think everyone would have been. It’s definitely the first time I saw any weapon, like, any weapon at all.”

Lia Altunis (’25) said her experience of almost getting mugged with a classmate created emotional distress and has heightened her awareness of potential danger.

“They started chasing both of us and we were running down the street,” Altunis said. “I started rushing into my car, trying to get in before they could get to me. They tried opening our car door, tried to barge in and obviously it’s a very scary feeling because you don’t know if they have any weapons on them or what they’re willing to do to get your possessions.”

Altunis said the experience has had long-term effects on how she acts in public, as she now no longer takes calls outside and will instead go into a restaurant before pulling out her phone.

“I always had my phone out, and I had always heard about these muggings at ASL, but I never thought that it would actually happen to me, so I wasn’t very cautious,” Altunis said. “Now, I never have possessions on me. I put my phone in my pocket and I never present them to the public.”

There were 15 reported and attempted muggings of ASL students in the 2022-23 school year, five in the 2023-24 school year and one thus far in the 2024-25 school year, according to Head of Security Roy Yefet. Despite the decline in reports this school year, muggings remain a notable shared experience among students, with 12.7% of students having been mugged in or around the St. John’s Wood area, according to an online survey conducted by The Standard Jan. 29 – Feb. 3 with 110 student responses.

Director of Student Life Royce Wallace said during his time as a school counselor from 2020-23, he spoke to several students who were victims of knife crime. Despite their experiences, Wallace said most victims felt unharmed and “said they were fine.”

According to the online survey, 90.9% of High School students feel safe walking in St. John’s Wood during the day. However, 56.4% of students feel safe walking in St. John’s Wood at night. Additionally, 64.6% percent of students are desensitized to reports of muggings.

Yara Kassir (’26), who lives in St. John’s Wood, said she remembers feeling anxious from 2022 to 2023 when mugging reports were most frequent, noting that the danger has become normalized since then.

“I remember there was a time, maybe a year or two years ago, at ASL, where students were getting mugged more than once a week,” Kassir said. “After hearing stories about muggings, it’s just known that this area is probably not safe.”

After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and students were able to return to school in 2022, mugging reports increased dramatically, according to Yefet.

Yefet said the surge in post-pandemic muggings was not surprising as opportunist muggers sought to make up for lost income following a period of inactivity during quarantine.

“People who are mugging are thinking, ‘We had a two-year break, and we have to compensate for that’,” Yefet said.

Yefet said the lenient slap-on-the-wrist approach of the MET police and U.K. courts toward minors convicted of petty crimes, such as mugging and harassment, contributes to the frequency of criminal activity among youth.

“The consequences are low, so they keep doing it because you’re still a minor,” Yefet said. “Yeah, you are going to get a criminal record but slap on the wrist.”

Additionally, Yefet said economic hardship is a major catalyst in driving up crime rates, particularly phone theft, as individuals can resell stolen electronics for quick cash.

“They are asking for a mobile phone, asking for your passcode and they get £1,000 if they’re lucky, so why not if they really need the money and they’re coming from a difficult family?” Yefet said.

Moreover, Wallace said the administration’s approach to combating petty crime is educating students on street safety and providing emotional support for victims.

“I see myself supporting students,” Wallace said. “If I see a pattern, we want to work with administration to make sure that we are keeping our kids safe with security.”

Grade 9 and 10 students learn about street safety in health classes during their MET Youth Engagement Team unit. The unit includes informative visits from MET police officers who share information on crime prevention and U.K. law, according to Wallace.

Wallace said students have applied knowledge from this unit in real-world situations, emphasizing the necessity and practical benefits of the administration’s anti-mugging efforts.

“I know kids, at least last year, used some of the skills that they learn in a health class out in public,” Wallace said.

Additionally, the administration hosted its annual assembly centered on London street safety with the MET police for Grade 9 and 10 students Sept. 30, 2024.

Despite receiving instruction on street safety from the presentations, Kassir still feels scared during her 10 to 15 minute walk home from school. Kassir said the muggings have significantly altered her daily routine, forcing her to constantly assess the safety of her commute based on the time of day and the level of darkness outside.

“I used to do football, and it would be dark by the time I came back home from practice,” Kassir said. “I would always get picked up from the station because it’s not safe enough. My parents wouldn’t feel comfortable with me walking home alone at night.”

As a result of the MET police assemblies, Kassir said she has learned to alter her behavior and outward appearance by hiding valuables and walking without distraction.

According to the online survey, 40% of High School students say the threat of muggings has altered their daily life or routine to a certain degree.

Although Kassir still fears being confronted by a mugger, she said the anti-mugging curriculum played an important role in educating her and her peers who “might not be aware of how much of a target they are.”

Aelong said being mugged changed the way he views his neighborhood and where he walks at night.

“It really put everything in perspective for me,” Aelong said. “You hear about it all the time, but, like, you never think it’s going to happen to you, and then when it does happen to you, you’re like, ‘Wow.’”

Wallace said to prevent the possibility of muggings, the community must become more educated on crime prevention and have meaningful dialogue on the subject.

“We just need to communicate about safety,” Wallace said. “London, it’s a big city, so unfortunately, you know, petty crime happens, which is sad, but I think our goal is to always make sure everyone is safe.”

Yefet said part of the administration’s obligation to its students and families is providing them with updates that keep the community informed on local events and safety measures.

“We like to convey a message to the community if a person [mugger] has been arrested or if kids are getting mugged on ‘Take Note,’” Yefet said. “Crime can be such a severe experience.”

Beyond preventative methods, Yefet said truly resolving the issue ultimately falls on the U.K. government and MET police in addressing the lack of serious consequences for offenders.

Yefet said unless they change the law, there will always be “a bit more mugging.”

Altunis said she reported her attempted mugging to school security and the MET police, however, she never heard back from the authorities.

“In my case, they didn’t really do anything,” Altunis said. “It was more like they reported the action and then that was it, they didn’t really do much to help me.”

Altunis said the MET police must be more present on the streets and active in crime prevention, as well as follow up with victims after reports have been filed.

“The police need to get more involved,” Altunis said. “They need to try and stop it as much as they can. The police need to step up their game and help the people who are victims.”

Clara Martinez contributed to reporting.

This story was originally published on The Standard on March 4, 2025.