A West Philly Local reader, who asked us not to use her name, was robbed last night and wanted to alert other neighbors about the incident that happened around 3 a.m. at her place near 49th and Walnut. The reader has recently moved to the area.

She says that the burglar, described as a tall dark skinned man wearing a black muscle t-shirt, jeans and black sneakers with orange soles, appeared in her kitchen (she lives in a row house) and took cash and a bag where her roommate kept all of her money and cards in. The burglar reportedly climbed through the kitchen window. He threw the contents of the bag, including credit cards, behind the U-Haul center at 48th and Chestnut, the reader writes. A good Samaritan found it with a receipt with her roommate’s number on it and returned it. The reader and her roommate reported the incident to the police. The burglar wasn’t armed and no one was injured.

The reader says that her friend was also staying at her place last night and witnessed the burglary. She writes:

“It was weird because [the burglar] actually told our friend “Hi” and took our money in front of her and walked out of the back door. We didn’t find out until this morning because she thought he might be a friend of ours. We just moved to the state and don’t know many people…”

We received emails from readers asking about the shooting/robbery that happened on Sunday, Aug 18, shortly before 4 p.m. near 46th and Springfield. The victim, a male, was shot in the shoulder during a robbery and was taken to the hospital where he was listed in critical condition, but is doing better now. The suspect fled the scene on foot, according to police reports.

The robbery was not random and the victim and the shooter may know each other, according to police. “There is not a maniacal serial robber out there robbing and shooting random people,” Joe Murray of the Southwest Police Detectives said in an email. No more details are available at this time as the investigation continues.

A jury convicted  the woman standing trial for the death of her 3-year-old godson in June 2011 at an apartment building near 49th and Chestnut Streets.

Prosecutors have said they will seek a lengthy prison sentence for Nadera Watson, 25. Watson was convicted of third degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, child endangerment and the possession of instrument of crime, according to court documents. The instrument was a small blowtorch that Watson used to burn Jaquinn Brewton’s buttocks during potty training.

Watson earlier turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in a prison sentence of 30 to 60 years. Her boyfriend, Marcus King, pleaded guilty earlier to third degree murder charges.

King testified that Batson repeatedly abused the child, who had speech and developmental delays. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 25.

More details on the Jaquinn Brewton case are available here.

UPDATE (8/14/13): Police said that they are still in the early stages of the investigation and couldn’t provide more details on the shootings. We also learned that a 19-year-old male was shot and killed on the same block just last week, on Saturday, Aug 10.

Four men were shot near Kingsessing Park Tuesday night, around 10 p.m.

NBC10 is reporting that the men were shot along the 1100 block of Divinity Street, which connects the 5000 blocks of Springfield and Chester Avenues. All four men were hospitalized. One is in critical condition.

Neighbors reported that police helicopters were in the area searching for the suspect or suspects.

Jaquinn Brewton. Photo from ABC 6.

Jurors will begin deliberations today in the murder of 3-year-old Jaquinn Brewton, the toddler who died after his caretaker said he fell down the steps in the apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street where he lived. A horrific story of systematic abuse emerged during last week’s trial.

Jaquinn’s godmother and caretaker, 24-year-old Nadera Batson, was charged with murder after paramedics responded to the apartment on June 29, 2011 to find Jaquinn unconscious with several bruises and lacerations. He was placed on life support and died two weeks later. Batson said he had fallen down the steps. Jaquinn began living with Batson after his mother moved into a homeless shelter.

Batson’s boyfriend, 25-year-old Marcus King, pleaded guilty earlier to third degree murder charges. He testified that Batson repeatedly abused the child, who had speech and developmental delays.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Mike Newell published a harrowing story yesterday that outlines the prosecution’s case. The story details routine abuse that included beatings and punishment involving a blowtorch.

West Philly Local reader Alexandra reports that two bikes were stolen from her porch on the 5000 block of Cedar Ave on Friday night (between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.). She wanted to alert West Philly residents about it and hopes they will be on the lookout for the bikes.

“I am hoping that people will bring their fancy bikes inside and not leave them on porches like we did,” she wrote in an email. A police report was filed about these missing bikes – if someone sees them they can call the police, or call Alex directly at 301 502 4820.

Here’s the description of the bikes:

– A handmade mountain bike – metallic orange paint, a little dinged up. Women’s small-medium sized frame. Large black bike seat, new-ish tires. This bike has lots of sentimental value to its owner because her brother made it for her from scratch.

– One year-old KHS 2011 Urban Xcape medium frame women’s bike. Black. There was no bike seat because it had recently been stolen off the bike at another location.