There have been a few muggings in the area in the past few days, which occurred relatively early in the evening. The muggings were reported by neighbors on neighborhood listservs first and just now we were able to confirm them with the police.
Neighbor Stephen says that on Saturday, Dec. 10, around 6:30 p.m. two men (black males in their 30’s, wearing dark clothing) followed him from the 46th & Chester trolley stop and mugged him just half a block from his house.
Stephen was punched in the face multiple times and the men took his wallet, phone, and backpack. During the robbery Stephen screamed repeatedly that he was being mugged but no one heard him.
The victim reported the incident to the police and they were able to track his iPhone to 53rd Street in Southwest Philly and later stopped a man, who had a gun in his possession but none of the victim’s items. The victim could not identify the man, according to Joseph Murray of Southwest Detectives. The man was arrested for a weapons violation. There is nothing on the second suspect as of yet.
Another mugging was reported about a week ago in the same area (near 46th and Kingsessing) around 7 p.m. A man was pushed to the ground by a couple of young men and his wallet was taken.
These two cases do not seem to be related as the descriptions of the robbers do not match, Murray reported.
We asked Murray to comment on muggings taking place in early evenings. Here’s what he wrote: “It is not quite our peak time for robberies but they are not that rare. It is worrisome though.”
December 12th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
I got this via email on Nov 27th:
UPenn Alert: Robbery by gun, 41 Chestnut, white male, 20’s, black hat & olive military coat, suspicious persons call 215-573-3333.
The message came in just before 7 pm, so I’m assuming the crime happened within an hour before that.
December 12th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
A friend was coming over the footbridge at 51st and Warrington. Mugged by two guys claiming to have a gun. Took a crappy phone and his wallet. Just 2 blocks from his destination. We reported it and spend the night with the police.
December 12th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
For the past year or so, there have been a number of early evening muggings in the areas surrounding Chester St. between 46th and 49th Street. Advice? Try not to walk in these areas alone between 5:30 and 7:30, and keep your wits about you (i.e. lay off the iphone. Music and websurfing are a major distraction, making one an easy target). I think the rise in recent robberies during this time period may be attributed to the fact that many are returning home after work/school, therefore there are more people on the streets than usual. Be safe everyone! Walk with a purpose, remain keen and watchful, wear a solemn, stoic expression, try not to make eye contact with strangers and walk with your hands in fists. I’ve lived in the city for six years, and in this area for three, and I believe that this “traveling” method has worked well for me. No one has even tried to approach me as long as I move swiftly and look like I mean business.
December 12th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Jessi, I like your method. I actually try to make eye contact though. I’m not sure which is safer. I really thought that I was pretty safe during the early evening. I’m going to start riding my bike to/from work instead of walking.
December 12th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
What a shitty way to live.
Move someplace nicer, don’t walk around scowling with your hadns in fists.
That is no way to live.
Pick up and move away from the criminal elements, then lighten up, walk with your eyes up, and engage people with a smile.
You only get one trip on this rock.
Enjoy it.
Ian
December 12th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Ian,
I do not agree with your advice. As someone who has lived in Miami, New York City, Budd Lake New Jersey and Easton, PA I will tell you that a mugging can happen – and does happen – anywhere. I was mugged once – not in the decade I lived in Philly – but in Easton.
I do NOT want to move somewhere else. I like my house and my University City neighborhood. I am not gonna move to Idaho and live is some rural community because it lessens my chance of a mugging. Besides that only hands a victory to the criminals.
Crime is something we have in the USA. Deal with it. Small towns, suburbs, big cities … we all have crime. You can call it a shitty way to live, but it’s a fact of life. Don’t like it? Join a Buddhist monastery in Sri Lanka!
We CAN improve our neighborhood many ways: reporting crime, improving street lighting, being more alert, utilizing the UCD “Street Ambassadors”, attending the Police-Community meetings at Calvary Center every month, etc.
To me these are the more realistic and positive solutions rather than just moving away.
December 12th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Ian is right: this is no way to live. Unfortunately, we do not all have the means to organize some kind of exodus. Until then, it’s survival mode. Walk with your chest out and your shoulders up, and be prepared to put a bullet (from your legally licensed weapon) in any snot-nosed criminal who tries to approach you. These scumbags already have the victory because the state does nothing to prevent their reign of terror. If you think anything besides a serious military crackdown is going to put an end to crime in our city, you’re naive.
I was mugged once. Both the “suspects” ended up in the hospital, had some pathetic charges filed against them, and were back on the streets mugging and killing people within a few days. Until that’s no longer the status quo, criminals will do whatever they can get away with.
December 13th, 2011 at 12:01 am
Early-evening mugging, 8 days ago, near 46th & Chester. Pushed the victim, a middle-aged man, to the ground. Took an iPad, cell phone, wallet.
December 13th, 2011 at 12:47 am
@K.T. — sounds like you are as bad as the “criminals”! Shooting anyone who dares approach you is, indeed, no way to live.
December 13th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Why haven’t the police started patrolling that area?
December 13th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Everybody:
There will be a Community/Police Dept. meeting this Thursday evening, Dec. 15th, at Calvary Center on the corner of Baltimore Ave. and 48th Street. Why not attend? Officers will be to answer your questions.
We have it in our power to reduce crime in our neighborhood.
There are better and more realistic options than #1 Packing up all your things and moving away, and #2 whipping out firearms and shooting people on the street.
December 13th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
what time on thursday evening?
December 13th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I have to agree with Jessi. I have lived in areas more dangerous than West Philly and have never (knock on wood) been approached or mugged and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am always vigilant (not on a phone or ipod) and walking swiftly (I always walk like this though). Muggings happen everywhere – center city, rittenhouse, suburbs, etc. You are never 100% safe anywhere its just about being as smart as you can be. Sometimes bad stuff happens but if you are aware and prepared it is less likely and I am happy with that. Honestly though, I feel way more safe in W. Philly/U City than where I grew up because of all the people and a pretty decent police presence thanks to the universities. I also try not to carry too much cash or credit cards I don’t need and don’t have a phone worth stealing so they wouldnt make off with much. I also always carry my keys in my pocket and not my purse so if I am mugged I can still get into my apartment. do the same with my phone and ID late at night.
December 21st, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Johnnie, did I say I would shoot anyone who dares to approach me? No. I said I will shoot a criminal who attempts to mug me. Have fun being a victim. I will not.