Lots and lots of stabbings have occured at the Beach this year. This guy from Maryland stabbed somebody this past Saturday after they got into a fight on a trolley.
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/08/maryland-man-charged-oceanfront-stabbing, or google "Joseph Garvin Young Virginia Beach Stabbing"
A woman was standing on the beach near Shore Drive, talking on the phone, when this dude snuck up behind her and cut her neck just about a week ago.
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/man-pleads-guilty-attack-woman-va-beach, or google "Stephen James Franklin Shore Drive Attack"
In May, a young man from the Dominican Republic suffered gashes all over his head and had the tendons and veins in his right wrist sliced on Pacific Avenue by this samurai sword wielding maniac.
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/man-pleads-guilty-attack-woman-va-beach or google "Jeremie Alan OrtonVirginia Beach Samurai Sword"
Those were the ones that received attention from the local media, but there must be a bunch more. Possibly hundreds of millions. I'm guessing close to a billion.
Have you ever been at the Oceanfront after midnight? Not lickin' an ice cream cone on a bench in front of King Neptune or smootching your hand in a lifeguard stand - that doesn't count. I'm talking about walking or riding a bike on the numbered streets when nobody's around. It's scary as hell.
Even in bright, hot sunlight I've noticed creepy folks up to no good at the Beach. They live in the crappy hotels along Pacific and Arctic Avenue or further inland in crappy apartment complexes. They're looking for people to rob. They're addicted to some form of cocaine, meth, or pills. They're looking for people walking to or from work. People on vacation. People not paying attention.
Soooooo, pay attention. Travel in groups. If you're alone, be quick. Don't linger. If some fool jumps out and scares the crap out of you, yell "FIRE" and run towards activity.
