Mugging 'Etiquette'?

I have recently been 'mugged' in the streets of Northern Italy. I only recently moved here due to a new workplace.

She (concluding from her voice and demaenour) simply walked up to me with a knife and nicely asked whether I have any money with me. Of course I was scared and was willing to hand it over, but she would only actually take half of what I had in my portemonnaie (around 100€) at the time. She even went ahead and apologised for the inconvenience she caused, saying that maybe she'll pay me back some day.

So, is this 'common' or did I experience a rather rare case?

It might be important to add that I have absolutely no experience with any criminal activities aside from television, so my vision might be distorted in this matter.

A bonus question would be is it actually dangerous to be on the streets of (Northern) Italy after dark?

Best Answer

Long story short: there is no mugging etiquette. Muggers don't get together in clubs and agree on how to mug people. Muggers simply mug people. Their reasons are different and so are their behaviours but their end result is the same: to mug you. I think you were simply lucky to be treated nicely by the person mugging you.