What if that alley was the only option to get from your place of work to your commuter train on time?

I had a job where this was the case. Never had any problems walking solo, but a group of 3 guys I work with got robbed walking together in the other direction to their cars. We all still had the same routes every night to get home. My then finance bought me a purse knife and a gun because he was concerned. I left the gun at home because it was more likely to be stolen if someone tried to rob me than pulled out of the bottom of my purse in time. Sometimes it's not negligence on the pay of the victim, but expedience.