Philly.com has reported that a middle-aged woman was abducted along the 5000 block of Irving Street, taken to an unidentified and sexually assaulted. Police have confirmed the report.

Police said the woman is 48 years old and was abducted at about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. She was released after the sexual assault.

View Abduction and assault in a larger map

A 22-year-old woman, identified as Zykia Sanders, was shot in the back and killed near 45th and Market streets outside of West Park Apartments early Saturday morning, police said. The victim was found on the sidewalk and transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at about 2:30 a.m. No arrests have been made.

Police believe that Sanders was hit by a stray bullet during an argument. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 215-686-3334.

Source: Philly.com

West Philly Local readers, Morgan and Tom, wanted to let neighbors know that somebody smashed a window in their car, parked on Baltimore Avenue:

“…A brick was thrown through our car window on Friday night. Surprisingly nothing was stolen, even a bag with emergency supplies that sits just below the broken window. It was parked on the north side of Baltimore ave between 44th and 45th. A brick was found on the back seat. Maybe they didn’t like our SC plates? We have no idea why someone would do this.”

Morgan and Tom said that they were going to file a police report today.

Kareem Drayton, the 19-year-old who pleaded guilty to rape and robbery charges stemming from a crime spree last fall, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison today before his family and about a dozen members of 48th Street Neighbors, a group formed in the wake of his crimes.

Before the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Catherine Thurston read aloud statements from the victim of the highly publicized gunpoint mugging and rape last September near 48th and Springfield, and from the 48th Street Neighbors group.

“Though I am often troubled by the portion of the population in this country that are behind bars, Kareem Drayton needs to be separated from the rest of the population,” the victim wrote. “No one on earth is responsible for where he is today other than Kareem Drayton.”

The statement from the 48th Street Neighbors spoke about the sense of loss and insecurity in the community that followed the crimes. Along with the rape and robbery, Drayton also pleaded guilty to other gunpoint robberies and assaults. All of the victims later moved out of the neighborhood.

“There is a deep sense of pain, anger, and grief for many of us,” the group wrote. “In the end, this is a loss to Kareem as well.”

The full text of the statement is below.

Following the statements, Drayton stood, drew a deep breath and addressed the court, his family and community members.

“I would truly like to apologize to my victims and the community I hurt,” he said. “I am not the monster you think I am.”

Drayton said he was “under the influence” when he committed the crimes.

Judge Ann Butchart referred to the victim and community statements while sentencing Drayton.

“Compassion is one of the strengths of our city,” she said. “There is a tremendous degree of compassion from the victim and the community members. That compassion gives me hope for our city and hope for the defendants who come into my courtroom.”

The following is the text of the “impact statement” from the 48th Street Neighbors delivered during the sentencing of Kareem Drayton:

October 18^th, 2012

 To The Court and to Kareem Drayton:

 I am writing on behalf of the 48^th Street Neighbors, which is a group of people that has joined together to create a stronger community. We began in response to the crimes Kareem Drayton is being sentenced for today, and so it is particularly important that we tell the court that we are here in support of the victims, who were our neighbors, and the ways we have been affected by these crimes.

 There has been a struggle to regain a sense of safety for us all, and a sense of loss. We are aware that all of the victims ended up moving out of the neighborhood, due to the trauma they suffered. That was a loss to us all, and to them. There is a deep sense of pain, anger, and grief for many of us.

 In the end, this is a loss to Kareem as well. Our community is full of people who would give him so much more than their money or belongings, if given the opportunity. We are teachers, social workers, mentors, mothers, fathers and prayer warriors. We serve people just like Kareem as part of our daily lives. And now he will not have the opportunity to know us for who we are because of his choices. He has cut himself off from these particular victims in a very profound way. This is a deep tragedy.

 Kareem, the material possessions that you gained through your crimes came at too high a cost. Your choice to ignore our humanity cost you too much of yours. Don’t allow anyone to encourage you to do that again, or to maintain that attitude towards us. It will cost you your soul. We can be so much more than how you see us, and you can be so much more than what you have allowed yourself to become. When you come out of prison, remember that about us, and yourself.

 We look for justice in this case. Please consider the seriousness of these crimes, and how the victims’ lives have been forever changed, and what they have lost as well as what we have lost as a community. Also, there are those of us who are praying for you Kareem, to turn and be changed to be a real man, one who can handle the truth about those around him and himself. Our hope is that what is decided here will serve both of those purposes.

 Yours,

48^th Street Neighbors

Reader Mike B. emails that while he was away between Oct. 5 and Oct. 9 his bicycle was gone from his front porch when he returned. Here’s the bike description, which Mike also put on the wall of the “Philadelphia Stolen Bikes” group on Facebook.

“Specialized Rockhopper mountain bike stolen from my front porch, 4400 block of Larchwood in University City, sometime between 10/5-10/9. The frame is gray/silver with chipped paint, with I think some old sticker residue. The tires are Schwalbe Marathons, and are pretty worn. There are two different styles of brake levers (one black, one silver), and shifters (right is a grip shifter and left is a trigger shifter), and the rubber grips are old and gummy. The saddle is black leather and foam, and is very worn (you might be able to read “Mikado” on it somewhere). It has a rigid fork and hardtail. It was locked with a cable lock (d’oh).”

Hakim Benson (photo from Philly Police Blog).

Update: Just a few days after police released a photo of Hakim Benson, who is suspected in multiple West and Southwest Philly robberies, including the Sept. 28 robbery of CVS Pharmacy at 4849 Market St., he was captured. Benson was arrested and charged with 12 gunpoint robberies on October 6.

Oct 4, 10:06 am: Police have released a photo of robbery suspect Hakim Benson, wanted for multiple gunpoint robberies in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

One of the recent crimes Benson is suspected in is a robbery of the CVS Pharmacy located at 4849 Market Street on September 28, when a male pointed a silver revolver at the employee and told him to put all the money in his bag. He took $75 and two cartons of cigarettes and fled. For more information on other robberies Benson is suspected in, visit Philly Police Blog.

Hakim Benson is 5’5″ tall and weighs 125lbs. He has numerous tattoos on his face. If you see him, please call 911.