UPDATE (12/11/2014): Unfortunately, there was another report this week of a sexual assault in West Philadelphia. A 21-year-old woman, a Drexel University student, was raped in her off-campus apartment on the 3400 block of Spring Garden street. The assault happened early Wednesday morning, around 4:15 a.m. An unidentified man broke into the student’s apartment and threatened her with a meat cleaver prior to the assault, according to reports. The man fled the apartment after the assault. The description of the attacker is not available. The apartment was dark, and the victim could not describe the man who assaulted her, but this assault and Monday’s assault near 47th and Chestnut (see below) “do not appear to be related at this time,” according to PPD spokesperson Tanya Little. Drexel police and the Special Victims Unit of the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating.
(12/10/2014): A 23-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and robbed on Monday evening near 47th and Chestnut, according to police.
The woman was walking in the 100 block of S. 47th Street at around 8:30 p.m., when an unidentified male approached and grabbed her from behind. He then forced the victim to the ground and physically and sexually assaulted her before taking her purse and fleeing on foot, according to a police report. The attacker is described as a black male between 30 and 35 years of age, approximately 6 feet tall, heavy build, with short hair, close-trimmed beard and mustache. He was wearing a blue jacket, a black knit hat and gloves and had a backpack on. The extent of the victim’s injuries are currently unknown.
The Special Victims Unit is handling the investigation of this case. If you have any information about this crime please call 911 or 215-685-3251.
Police also reported an assault over the weekend near 41st and Sansom.
Witnesses helped stop a robbery of a 34-year-old female at 41st and Sansom Streets on Saturday, Dec. 6. The incident happened around 1:45 p.m. when the woman was walking alone on Sansom St and was approached by an unknown male in his 40’s. The man demanded the woman’s purse and then grabbed her by the throat and started dragging her toward 42nd street, according to a police report. The woman was screaming for help and three people who observed the robbery in progress approached the woman and the attacker. The attacker then let go of the victim and fled toward the 7-11 at 42nd and Walnut. The cameras at the 7-11 store were checked and a person matching the description of the suspect was seen exiting the store around 1:55 p.m. The victim was not injured and nothing was taken from her. The investigation continues.
December 10th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Reading awful stories like this makes me walk through our West Philly neighborhood with my head on a swivel and my hands ready to be balled into tight fists. Of course, I am a 6’2″ 230 pound male, so these cowardly crooks will likely avoid me, but they better pray I never catch one of them in the act of assaulting/robbing someone.
I hope both victims are ok (physically and mentally) and that they catch these punks.
December 10th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
I know. It makes you want to walk around with sock of quarters ala Bronson.
December 10th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Yeah, with every person I pass on the street, I mentally prepare for a possible assault. It sucks that anyone has to live this way. Like you, I’m 230+ and not likely to get messed with, but I feel for people, especially women, who have to constantly worry about this stuff.
December 10th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Hats off to the people who helped the second woman out! If more people did that there would be very little crime. Crime multiplies in a culture of fear, apathy, and poverty. We need to address all three Wenger we can.
December 10th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
This is for the ladies running or walking alone in our neighborhood at night .
Take your head phones completely OUT. Carry mase. Be on your gaurd and try to travel with others. No one is invincible ; be precautionary. Thanks for reporting this, brave woman!
December 11th, 2014 at 12:41 am
I was hit by a black male on 46th street close to spruce street on Wednesday 10 Dec at 7:00 pm. The black man walking the opposite direction as me. I did not even notice him, when I walk through him, suddenly I felt like he lifted a stick to my head, I used my hands to block him and run away. He continued walking. I did not see his face. This man is >30 years old, wearing a white jacket, about 180 cm high.
December 11th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Vicky, I hope you are ok and that you reported this to the police. It seems bizarre that you would be attacked by someone who continues to walk in the other direction as though nothing has happened. Perhaps he has mental issues that need to be addressed.
December 11th, 2014 at 9:13 am
Just a reminder: UCD offers walking escorts 24/7. If you ever want one, call 215-898-WALK (9255).
http://universitycity.org/walking-escorts
“Need a walking escort to public transportation, home or a meeting? Call 215-898-WALK (9255) and a Public Safety Ambassador will be dispatched. This free service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania.”
December 11th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
This is why I always cross the street whenever I question someone’s approach on the sidewalk. If the instincts tell me to move, I move.
December 11th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
I love our neighborhood. However, I always remember that I am in the city. I often see women out alone jogging very early in the morning or late at night and am concerned for their safety. Ladies please walk in groups when possible, carry mace, take a self-defense class, have a friend meet you at the bus or trolley stop to walk you home, etc. Even as a 6’2″ 215lb male, I am always very aware of my surroundings.
December 11th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
This is troubling, but reality in the society we live in today. I have to ask though– how is a person supposed to have others with them at all times? For any independent person, this is just too hard to actually do, no one has a personal escort for all their day-to-day travels. The best thing we can do is stay aware and alert, and walk with confidence, direction and purpose. As far as folks committing the assaults, I really don’t know what can be done that is an effective deterrent or punishment…
December 11th, 2014 at 5:29 pm
“I often see women out alone jogging very early in the morning or late at night and am concerned for their safety.”
“ladies running or walking alone in our neighborhood at night”
STOP IT. Attacks occur at ALL HOURS. Note that both of these attacks happened DURING THE DAY.
December 11th, 2014 at 5:29 pm
Penn sent out the following in an email:
Penn Police, Drexel Police and Philadelphia Police have received reports of four assaults committed over the past five days in the University City area. The suspect in all four assaults targeted females walking alone. The description of the suspect in all four assaults meets the same below description:
Suspect Description: a black male, in his mid-30s to 40s, approximately 6 feet to 6’ 2” tall with a heavy build, wearing a wool cap, a blue and white plaid shirt and/or a blue puffy coat.
December 11th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
@Dan S.
It is bizarre. I am fine except my fingures and my head were a little painful. I’ll come home earlier before the dark from now on.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:21 am
strongforu is right about women taking self – defense courses. Anyone know if there are any in west philly /university city? I work with two convents connected with st francis desales & I worry for the saftey of the sisters both day and the occasional evenings they are out.
December 12th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Vicky, you should definitely talk to the police about your assault. They’ve caught someone who is suspected in most of these attacks – plainclothes officers stopped him just after he *hit a woman in the head with a bicycle lock* and started dragging her down the street. He was older than 30, as you said. If this was the same guy who hit you in the head, you may have prevented a much worse assault by running away. Your information could help them.
That said, this man had 25 prior arrests. This is a disturbed individual. Be on your guard, but let’s remember that the vast majority of people who live in West Philly, black and white, are not out to harm you.
December 12th, 2014 at 8:59 am
(That second paragraph was not aimed at Vicky – that was for everyone).