The idea for the group came about one night a month ago when Varlack, Simms and others swapped horror stories of friends and relatives who had recently been mugged.

For Richard Beavers, 41, the idea for the group hit home after a friend of his called him in the middle of the night after being robbed – one of 300 robberies so far this year in Bed-Stuy’s 81st Precinct, an almost 10% jump from 2009.

“She was on her way home, came out of the Utica Ave. A train station and made it onto her block when a group of young males approached her and robbed her,” recalled Beavers, who owns the House of Art Gallery on Lewis Ave.

“I decided we can’t have these people terrorizing our young women and children, and we’re not speaking up and making our presence felt.”

The group’s organizers hope to set up a mentoring program soon, and are meeting with local community organizations so they can refer people they meet to special services.

But their main strength is a street credibility that comes with being young, successful black men, said co-founder Titus Mitchell.

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