Police are seeking residents’ help getting those pesky – and often dangerous – dirt bikes and ATVs off the streets.

Most of these things are illegal and they become more pervasive in the summer months, prompting concern across the city, including residents of West Philadelphia. Police are asking that if you see one on the street to call 911.

Here are a few other things to know when reporting an illegal use of these vehicles:

“Be prepared to provide a description of the vehicle and its operator,” according to Philly Police Blog. “Understand that these bikes and ATVs are moving vehicles and are often not in the area when an officer responds. Officers are trained to evaluate the danger that stopping these vehicles will pose to the public before attempting to pull it over. Also, it is important that citizens make every attempt to stay out of the way of these violators to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.”

You can also help the police if you can provide information about who has this vehicle, where it is stored, or if it is stolen. You can submit this information as a tip. You can send your tip as a text message to short code PPDTIP, email it to tips@PhillyPolice.com, or call 215-686-TIPS(8477).

A reader alerted us about flyers like the one above recently posted by police in the area surrounding 51st and Catharine Streets. The flyer says that on April 25, 2012, at around 6:48 a.m. a 17 year-old female was walking to school when she observed a young man sitting on the steps of a residence located at 644 S. 51st Street. The man stood up, grabbed the girl from behind holding a knife to her neck and dragged her to the rear of the alleyway where he began to cut and rip her clothing. The girl began to struggle and was able to break free and run home.

The attacker was last seen running between the 5100 blocks of Catharine and Walton Streets. He is described as a 20-year-old African American male, dark skin, 5’9″, medium build and clean shaven. He was wearing a black hooded jacket and brown Timberland boots.

Anyone with information is asked to call Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251/3252.

The search continues for a man wanted on assault charges who threw a hot cup coffee on a female employee at the Fresh Donuts store at 3914 Lancaster Avenue on May 8. The incident took place just after 11:00 a.m. as the man placed an order for food. As the employee was preparing the order, the man began arguing over payment. During the argument the man grabbed a cup of hot coffee and threw it on the employee, causing severe burns. The man was accompanied by a second male and was seen arriving in a tan or gold Cadillac.

The police released surveillance video of the incident (see below).

The suspect is described as a 52-year-old African American male, 6’2″, 200 lbs, with mustache. He was wearing glasses, a tan suit and tie, tan shoes and a gold watch.

If you have any information about this person or this crime, please contact Southwest Detectives at 215-686-3183/3184 DC# 12-16-019276. If you see this man, call 911 immediately.

Torin Myer of the 3900 block of Baring Street was apprehended early yesterday near 34th and Hamilton, a few blocks from the Drexel University campus. Police said he is not a student.

Police say Myer was exiting a convenience store and getting on a bicycle near 34th and Hamilton when Drexel University police Captain Fred Carbonara apprehended him. Myer had a BB gun, a knife, gloves and ski mask in his possession. Carbonara recognized Myer from the surveillance video made public last week.

“We had the area saturated yesterday,” said Detective Joe Murray from the Southwest Detectives.  “There was no way he was going to be able to walk around without getting caught. Just wish we had him sooner.”

Murray said Myer confessed to all four robberies.

Myer lived about four blocks from the Green Line Cafe at 3649 Lancaster Ave., which police say he robbed on April 30 and again on May 4. He is charged with robbery, assault and weapons charges in connection to those two robberies, one on April 26 at the Green Line Cafe near 45th and Locust and the May 6 robbery at the Chipotle Mexican Grill at 3925 Walnut St.

Police say Myer suffered from a “drug problem,” which in part explained his motives in the robberies.

He is scheduled to be arraigned later today.

Police have confirmed that a “person of interest” has been detained in connection with the robbery spree over the last two weeks at two Green Line Cafe locations and the Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Rumors began circulating this afternoon that police had caught the so-called “Green Line robber.”

“There is a person of interest that we are speaking with,” said Lt. John Walker of the Southwest Detectives. Another police source said that warrants will soon be issued in the case. “It’s him,” the source said.

As of 1:30 p.m. no charges had been filed.

The Green Line Cafe on Lancaster Avenue in Powelton was robbed at gunpoint twice last week and the location at 45th and Locust was robbed on April 26. Police believe the suspect in that case also robbed the Chipotle Mexican Grill at 3925 Walnut St. on Sunday night.

We will pass along more details when we get them.

A masked man robbed the Chipotle Mexican Grill at 3925 Walnut St. last night, police said.

The suspect was described as a white male wearing a black mask and police have confirmed that he is the same person responsible for a string of gunpoint robberies at Green Line Cafes within the past two weeks.

The Chipotle robbery took place at about 10:30 p.m.. The restaurant closes at 10 p.m.

Stand by for updates.

(h/t The Daily Pennsylvanian)