Police are reporting that two young men recently tried to rob two Russian nationals at gunpoint near the 4800 block of Walnut St. The Russians proceeded to beat the two men up and take their BB gun.
Police say the incident, which happened Thursday, was one of several robberies or attempted robberies on that day in the neighborhood. Thursday’s robberies are part of a rash of robberies over the last few days. Most have been clustered within a six-block radius of 48th and Baltimore. Below are details on some of them. The information comes from a combination of police reports, an anonymous e-mail to westphillylocal.com and Southwest Detective Joe Murray’s must-read Twitter feed.
• Thursday, July 28 – A 25-year-old man was approached near 49th and Cedar at about 1 a.m. by a 19-year-old carrying a black handgun. The victim fled on foot but was cornered by a second young male. Both men beat him up and stole his cell phone, which was valued at $215.
• Thursday, July 28 – A 32-year-old female was approached by two males near 48th and Cedar at 12:13 p.m. One male grabbed her purse. The woman fought back, but the two men fled with her car keys. The woman refused to file a report. A witness, who asked that her name not be used, e-mailed us with some details on this one. She wrote:
“Two women and a twelve week old infant in a baby carriage were mugged in the middle of the day on Thursday, July 28th. The thief was carrying a gun and approached from behind on the south side of the 4800 block of Cedar.”
• Thursday, July 28 – Three armed and masked young men entered the Fresh Deli (4832 Baltimore Ave.) and attempted to rob it at about 10:30 p.m.. The owner, who was unarmed, chased the men out. Detective Murray wrote: “He’s lucky.”
• Thursday, July 28 – Plainclothes officers from the 18th District arrested a man who had broken into a home at about 1 p.m. and stolen a laptop and iPod. The items were returned to the owner.
Murray also warned residents that it’s not a good idea to fight back against armed robbers, despite the success by some folks above. He wrote: “Two robberies I posted had unarmed people fighting people with guns. Don’t roll the dice on it being a fake gun..plenty of real ones out there.”
July 31st, 2011 at 10:51 am
Pretty scarry. Im curious as to whether there are any valid theories to explain the sudden increase. Increase in drug activity? Drop in police presence? Movement of criminal element closer to neighborhood? Or is it just one of those things that happen when it gets hot in Philly?
July 31st, 2011 at 11:18 am
Aside from not fighting back, are there any recommendations from officials as to what neighbors can do? Porch sitting to keep eyes on the street? Request escorts when walking?
July 31st, 2011 at 2:06 pm
“Giving them what they want” only encourages more robberies. It’s no guarantee of safety either. “What they want” may also be no witnesses.
http://www.standard.net/topics/utah/2011/06/15/masked-gunman-shoots-slc-store-clerk-robbery
July 31st, 2011 at 6:53 pm
It happens every summer from when school gets out and pretty much ends when school goes back in. It’s mostly young kids and it happens all over the city.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Rich: Perhaps we need to keep this in mind when calculating the true cost of summer school LOL!
July 31st, 2011 at 11:32 pm
AFB, I respect your decision to not give up your things during a robbery. I don’t agree with it, but to each his own. You cited a robbery from earlier this month in which a store clerk was shot in the face even though he gave up the money that was demanded of him. If we were going tit-for-tat I could remind you of Mustafa Shaker who was killed in his store at Front and Girard in late May. Shaker had enough of being a victim and started throwing cans at the robbers. One of the guys turned and shot Shaker in the face with a shotgun as he fled the store. Could his death have been prevented by simply giving them what they wanted? Who knows. All I know is I will never tell a 20 year old Penn student to take a guess on whether a gun is real or not so he can keep his iPhone.
In 2009, the FBI states police departments around the country handled more than 400,000 robberies. Within those numbers we can find stories of heroes and stories of tragic, senseless loss. I recommend giving your phone up when approached by someone with a gun. In West and Southwest Philly, we have a damn good track record of catching robbers. In the past few months you may have read some of the robberies I’ve posted on Twitter. You see that the 18th district plainclothes cops have caught a lot of these kids minutes after the crime. Trust me, that isn’t happening throughout the city. With UPenn, University City detail, Allied Barton security, 18th district, 16th district, Drexel PD etc., you have a lot of people protecting you out there. At Southwest Detectives we are doing our best to catch the ones that get away. We don’t forget the ones from months or even years ago. Everything usually comes full circle out here…things have a way of solving themselves.
As detectives we are reactive more often than proactive when it comes to dealing with crime. I think we could do a lot better in getting tips out or alerting the public to crime patterns. That being said, a lot of the tips I would give may seem like common sense to most.
Dont walk with your iPod on full blast at night. If you must walk late night try to use the more well-lit blocks. (Riding my bike to and from work has really shown me just how dark these streets get. Next time you’re riding down Pine St at night just try to make out people walking down the sidewalks. Impossible.) If you must walk late at night, just be aware at all times. I’m not saying be paranoid, just use common sense when picking and choosing routes. Crossing streets instead of walking through groups of kids. If something doesn’t feel right..it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts.
Missy: I happen to think that a decrease in drug activity has led to more robberies from older teens and guys in their early 20’s. In West/SW we just don’t see the volume of drug sales that we did before. How else can some criminals make money if the drug game isn’t what it used to be? As far as the younger kids, the group/gang mentality seems to be the fad. The kids in their early teens seem to favor the shock and awe approach meaning they bum rush and attack then take whatever they can get their hands on. It should be noted that when separated from the group in the police station they tend to weep uncontrollably.
Naomi: As far as requesting escorts, it depends on where you live. 215-898-WALK is the number to request a security guard walk-along on and near PENN’s campus. From Upenn’s safety website:
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, between 30th to 43rd Streets and Market Street to Baltimore Avenue.
Escorts are also available from 10:00am until 3:00am between 30th & 50th and Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue via the University’s partnership with the University District Ambassador Program.
And Missy you mentioned the criminal element moving closer to the neighborhood. This is a major city. There are nice neighborhoods and not so nice neighborhoods. As a fact of life, the haves and have-nots are going to cross paths somewhere in the middle. Pick a nice neighborhood and I can give you examples of robbers/burglars slipping in from an adjacent area to commit crime. Just use common sense and trust your instincts and more often than not it will be enough to keep you safe.
If anyone has any questions or problems in West or Southwest division feel free to respond here or email me at Murrayswdd@aol.com or call me at my office #215-476-1131.
August 1st, 2011 at 12:51 am
In June 2009, when I was 23, I was walking home around 2 AM from the area mentioned above to Baltimore Ave and was followed, then attacked by two young black guys from behind and violently beaten for a long period of time. They seemed extremely experienced in their method of attack and broke part of my face. They took my wallet and cell phone but kept demanding for more. I couldn’t identify them since they attacked from behind and proceeded to assault me. Interesting that it’s the same area. I hope these people are are identified and arrested.
August 1st, 2011 at 6:59 am
Thanks Murry for a very thorough reply. I feel better already and glad you are on the ball!
August 1st, 2011 at 11:34 am
I think part of the reason this is happening in the 6 block radius for 48th and Baltimore is because you can see for at least 2 blocks in every direction from the corners on Baltimore, Chester, and Springfield between 46th, 47th, and 48th street. That way, these kids can see when a target is coming, and if there will be any witnesses. Unfortunate for me, as I live within that radius and have dogs that need to be walked after dark. My fiance was assaulted a month ago and pistol whipped with one of these BB guns 2 blocks from our home while walking the dogs. Be aware of your surrounding, and choose routes where you are not alone. My friend from Brazil says they keep “robber” money, like a 20, in an easily accessible place to give up when mugged, so you don’t have to give up your whole wallet or phone. Maybe that is a compromise between giving them what they want approach and always fighting back approach.
Adrian, these kids know what Penn students have, which is why this area is a hot one.
August 1st, 2011 at 12:46 pm
West Philly is a gentrification/displacement zone. These kids know that many of the people who’ve been moving into the area have smartphones and laptops and other assets on them at any given time. it’s quick and easy money. there are the band-aids of surveillance, escorts and policing, but i think the answers are in prevention, in putting more effort into our social structure which is currently crumbling. after school programs are few and far between, our schools are floundering, the economy sucks. it’s tough to get a job, especially if you’ve got a record or no diploma/GED. More and more money gets pumped into our prison system every year while so many people never learn to read or write. While so many people drop out of school due to disinterest, violence or boredom. Fortunately, most of these incidents did not end in harm, but Philly has one of the highest violent crime (and also poverty) rates in the nation. I imagine the parents of these kids aren’t doing great financially, and I imagine the self esteem of these kids isn’t sky high. From my experience working with repeat offenders of violent crimes, many don’t expect to live past their 20s, many feel they live in a war zone. Increasing protection in our area, is one thing, but to work for a safer city for all, we need to look at investigate the roots of crime and take action. My condolences go to the folks who were injured. My wish is that those who are concerned about the violence will find ways to make change: volunteering, meeting their neighbors, listening and stop passing the blame.
August 1st, 2011 at 3:20 pm
This made me laugh: “The kids in their early teens seem to favor the shock and awe approach meaning they bum rush and attack then take whatever they can get their hands on. It should be noted that when separated from the group in the police station they tend to weep uncontrollably.”
Thanks for always keeping an eye out, TheFuzz! The information you’ve given to the community over the years is very much appreciated.
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 am
hopeful said: “I imagine the parents of these kids aren’t doing great financially, and I imagine the self esteem of these kids isn’t sky high. From my experience working with repeat offenders of violent crimes, many don’t expect to live past their 20s, many feel they live in a war zone.”
It sounds like you are making excuses for these juvenile delinquents. The empathy should be reserved for the poor VICTIMS of their deeds. Surely, people who choose to become criminals usually haven’t been dealt the best hand in life, but I think you’re going down a slippery slope. Most kids with the same circumstances do NOT choose to become criminals. So what’s the difference? I say it’s the supervision and support of the adults around these kids. Their financial situation is a pitifully lame excuse.
IMHO, any person (kid or adult) that chooses to attack another citizen, deserves a multiple of the harm and terror they caused in retribution. Maybe that will help deter the next potential JD and cause him to think twice.
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:12 pm
RJ said “It sounds like you are making excuses for these juvenile delinquents. The empathy should be reserved for the poor VICTIMS of their deeds. Surely, people who choose to become criminals usually haven’t been dealt the best hand in life, but I think you’re going down a slippery slope. Most kids with the same circumstances do NOT choose to become criminals. So what’s the difference? I say it’s the supervision and support of the adults around these kids. Their financial situation is a pitifully lame excuse.”
Understanding the root causes and motivations of violent behavior is not “making excuses”. Finding the reason to why people engage in such behavior doesn’t make anyone any less sympathetic towards the plight of the victims. After all, I know it could easily be me in these robberies. Yes, throw the book at these criminals. Step up police presence and improve security.
However a larger police presence and tougher sentencing will not solve everything. Every time cops arrest a teen for a crime, there will be another teen filling his spot. One’s socio-economic status doesn’t explain all the reasons why one engages in criminal activity, but it does explain alot. I agree with you that parental supervision is important, and I am willing to bet that these kids didn’t have any or very little. It is these kids who we need to reach out to and get them engaged in some sort of constructive activity. Get them to do something that would feel good about themselves, else they’re going to take their self-loathing frustrations out on the rest of society. It is far more effective to provide opportunities to at-risk youth than it is to arrest them after they committed a crime.
August 5th, 2011 at 11:30 am
As a professional behavior analyst I see so many factors to why these kids behave aggressively with no respect for other humans. Motivations and values are different when impoverished. For example it was previously noted that many of these kids don’t expect to live past their 20s, meaning their value for human life is much different than a typical American. Parents, friends, and community members model these behaviors. Community, peers, and family reinforce negative behaviors and punish positive prosocial behaviors. Ease of the response of aggressing on others (dark streets, within walking distance to their neighborhood, easy and weak victims out on the street, victims with valuables). The number of crimes committed is (presumably) higher than those crimes that are solved and the suspect is caught and punished. Technically, for punishment to be most effective, it needs to occur immediately and following every occurrence of problem behavior. (Obviously this is pretty impossible in the natural environment.) There are a multitude of interventions that would need to be put into place to truly change the behavior of these kids and the fact that they have a 10-20 year learning history of these behaviors makes it incredibly difficult.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
A recent, and timely article on Lifehacker on some basic self-defense moves, including breaking a hold. A number of helpful videos are included:
http://lifehacker.com/5825528/basic-self+defense-moves-anyone-can-do-and-everyone-should-know