A 21-year-old Asian female was robbed at 1:50 a.m. on Thursday, March 15. The woman was walking toward 45th and Pine from Baltimore Avenue with a group of friends when she was pushed from behind and her iPhone was snatched.

Police say that the victim and her friends were likely followed by the attackers (three 17-18-year-old black males) to 45th and Pine from Baltimore Avenue. Two of the attackers were wearing hoodies, grey and white. The description of the third attacker was not provided, according to Lt. John Walker of the Southwest Detectives.

Walker also passed information regarding a series of burglaries that have occurred in the neighborhood this month (see map below) when a few residences were broken into and electronics were stolen. It appears that the same person or a group of people were involved in more than one of them, Walker says. Walker is asking residents to apply caution and to never leave your doors unlocked and windows open when you’re away.
 

 
A growing number of West Philly residents are trying to get “The Fuzz” back online.

Resident Amara Rockar has started an online petition aimed at persuading police Commissioner Charles Ramsey to allow Detective Joseph Murray to start tweeting again. Murray’s Twitter account, which has provided timely updates on crime and public safety for several years, has been offline since Jan. 11.

“Detective Murray’s use of Twitter is exactly the kind of useful and positive police-community interaction that the Philadelphia Police Department should encourage, not silence,” the petition reads. “Please approve his Social Media use under his official title immediately so that his updates to our community may resume.”

Murray’s Twitter account fell victim to the police department’s skittishness about its officers using social media publicly.

Murray’s updates on crime were invaluable for citizen awareness.

Police say a 53-year-old man was stabbed and robbed last night near 46th and Walnut after he tried to fight off a teen robber.

The man, who police say is from far Southwest Philly, was walking near 46th and Walnut at about 8:55 p.m. when a male described as 17 or 18 years old approached him, brandished a knife and demanded his wallet. Police say the man fought back and was punched in the face and stabbed several times in the back.

The man remained in stable condition this morning at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Police confirmed that two brothers, 19-year old Kenyatta Lloyd and 17-year old Marquis Lloyd from the 5200 block of Webster Street, were arrested in connection with three recent robberies.

Police say Kenyatta was arrested on January 26 for his involvement in a gunpoint robbery on January 9 on the 4400 block of Osage Avenue. The victim, a 25-year old man, was approached by three males, one of whom pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded his belongings. The robbers took the victim’s phone, ID and $40. Marquis Lloyd was also charged in this incident.

Marquis is also charged with two other similar robberies. One was on January 8 on the 4600 block of Larchwood Street and involved a 31-year old male. The second was on January 18 on the 4700 Springfield Avenue when a 32-year old female was robbed at gunpoint.

Marquis Lloyd is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses. Kenyatta Lloyd is charged with aggravated assault, robbery, theft, and weapons offenses.

Five people were arrested yesterday in connection with an LSD distribution operation run out of a house on the 4800 block of Florence Street.

Those arrested include 31-year-old Joshua Dassay, who lives in the home, Wesley Crawford, 34, of Ardmore, and 33-year-old Raphael Zappala, who lives on 50th Street.

Police say they found about 9,500 hits of acid and $10,000 in cash at the Florence Street residence. The District Attorney’s office, which called the operation a “million dollar drug ring,” says the LSD ring was distributing on the Drexel University campus and an investigation began when a Drexel University student, who was arrested on unrelated drug and weapons charges in Montgomery County on Jan. 18, tipped off police to the ring. The student allowed detectives to record drug transactions over the telephone. Those conversations led to the arrest of another Drexel University student, who was allegedly a lower level supplier. That student also cooperated with police. Neither students’ names have been released.

“It is sad that this was taking place on a campus of higher learning, but I hope that the actions of a few do not tarnish the image of educational excellence that we associate with Drexel University,” said District Attorney Seth Williams.

The DA’s Office said the alleged dealers were making between $5,000 and $15,000 a week selling the LSD for $10 to $30 a hit.

Dassay, Crawford and Zappala both face felony possession charges. Charges also include “criminal use of a communication facility,” also a felony, for allegedly using a telephone for drug transactions, and endangering the life of a child. An infant was found inside the Florence Street home at the time of the raid. The DA’s Office said Dassay was wanted for crimes in nine other states.

Crawford is being held on $500,000 bail. Zappala’s bail is $250,000. Bail information was not available for Dassay.

If you want to start or join a town watch group on your block and missed the town watch information session earlier this month, here’s another opportunity.

Next training will take place on Thursday, Feb. 2, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Renewal Presbyterian Church (47th and Cedar). Patty Bulack of the Cedar Park Neighbors Watch group will be there again to share her experience. Also there is a strong confirmation from Tara Smith, the official trainer from Town Watch, that she will be present this time.

Neighbors are welcome to come and discuss how town watch group members are working together. If you don’t think you can participate in the collective town watch efforts, you are welcome to come and learn about how to be safer.

For more information please contact Patty at: pbulack [at] gmail.com.