UPDATE (Thu, April 14, 2016): Another armed robbery attempt took place on Monday night on the 200 block of S. Melville St. (between Locust and Spruce) by the same person, police believe. It happened at around 9:20 p.m. A 27-year-old woman was walking up to her door on the block when a man approached her from behind, said that he had a gun and demanded money. The woman ran into the house and closed the door, and the man fled. Nothing was taken and no injuries were reported. In this case the suspect was described as a black male in his 20’s, thin build, 5 foot 7 inches, short hair, no facial hair. He was wearing a dark jean jacket.

April 11, 2016, 14:52 p.m.: The Southwest Detective Division is investigating a series of gunpoint robberies and robbery attempts on Walnut and Pine Streets in the past two months that may be connected.  The most recent incident was reported on Thursday, Apr. 7.

The first happened on February 18, when a man was walking near 47th and Walnut at around 6 p.m. and was approached by an unknown male who stated: “I have a gun, give me your wallet.” The man said “No” and the suspect threatened to shoot him, according to a police report. The victim then elbowed the attacker and ran to his residence a short distance away. Nothing was taken.

The suspect was described as a black male in his 20s, 6 feet tall, with medium length dreads, wearing all black. 

The second incident happened on March 14 near 45th and Pine. A woman was walking in the area at around 8:30 p.m. when she was approached from behind by an unknown male, who stated: “I have a gun, drop your purse.” The woman dropped her purse and kept walking, according to a police report. The robber took off with the victim’s purse containing her wallet with various IDs, credit cards, some cash and her iPhone.

The suspect was described as a black male, late 30s, thin, with braids. He was wearing a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt and dark baggy pants.

The third incident took place on April 7, at around 9:30 p.m. on the 4500 block of Walnut Street. A 27-year-old woman had just walked up to a house on the block and rang the doorbell to her boyfriend’s apartment when an unknown male approached her from a neighboring alleyway. He then demanded her purse and pointed a black firearm at her. Shortly thereafter, the woman’s boyfriend came to the front door and she went inside and called 911. The man fled and nothing was taken, according to police.

The suspect in this robbery attempt was described as a black male, 25-30 years old, 5 feet nine inches, with short dreads that fell around his face. He was wearing a dark colored jacket, and a red shirt underneath.

Those with information about these incident or the suspect are asked to contact Southwest Detective Division, Special Investigation Unit at 215-476-1131.