As package deliveries pick up during the holidays, so do package thefts. University City District has sent out an alert in its monthly Crime Update about an increase of package thefts from porches in November and December. The newsletter also includes these tips on how to prevent package thefts:

• Avoid leaving unattended packages on stoops or porches.
• If possible, have packages sent to a workplace or other secure location.
• If you’re shipping items using Amazon, take advantage of one of the Amazon locker locations in the area.

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A 29-year-old man has been charged in shooting deaths of four people, including a 7-year-old boy, whose bodies were found on Wednesday inside a home on the 5000 block of Walton Ave., according to police. The tragedy happened on Tuesday night when the man allegedly shot and killed his four family members – his 52-year-old mother, 56-year-old step father, and two half-brothers, ages 18 and 7.

The police found the suspect, who reportedly suffers from mental health problems, at home when they arrived to check on the well being of the adult family members after they didn’t show up at work on Wednesday, according to a report by NBC10. He was arrested and charged with four counts of murder after allegedly confessing to the killings.

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Forty-two crimes were reported in the University City area in September and nine arrests were made, according to this month’s UCD Crime Update. The number of robberies and armed robberies was down in comparison to the report published in April 2019, but the number of thefts from automobiles remained high since May.

Three gunpoint robberies were reported last month – at 49th and Hazel, 43rd and Chester and 32nd and Powelton (see map). An arrest was made in the Powelton robbery. Unarmed robberies took place at 41st and Walnut and 38th and Market, according to the report.

As for car break-ins and thefts from cars, 14 cases were reported in September in the area, and two arrests were made. There were also seven reports of stolen vehicles.  Continue Reading

An uptick in thefts from autos was reported back in May in the 18th Police District, which covers West Philadelphia neighborhoods south of Market Street, and the number of such thefts and car break-ins has remained high throughout the summer, according to several crime alerts from police.

Last Thursday, a string of thefts from cars parked on the 4800 block of Hazel all the way to the 5100 block of Hazel was reported. The thefts took place between the early morning hours of 2 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.. Check out this video:  Continue Reading

Police are searching for two suspects in connection to an armed robbery that took place Thursday morning on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. Two men, armed with a rifle and a handgun, robbed an armored car guard on the 3500 block of Market Street at around 10 a.m. during a cash delivery to an ATM, according to reports. The men got a hold of two bags of money, but dropped them after the second guard in the armored vehicle opened fire, 6ABC reports.

The suspects fled the scene after the shots were fired at them. One suspect fled on foot eastbound on Market Street, and the other one reportedly fled in a maroon Chevy Trailblazer. Police recovered the stolen bags of money and a gun with an assault weapon clip containing 40 to 50 rounds that the suspects had dropped when fleeing.  Continue Reading

There has been an uptick in thefts from cars in the area, according to police, with the most recent cases reported in the area of 41st and Market and 40th and Ludlow Streets. Thieves got entry inside cars by breaking windows, according to police.

In a recent tweet, Matthew Gillespie, the Commanding Officer of the 18th Police District, which covers West Philadelphia neighborhoods south of Market Street, reminded area residents and visitors who park their cars on the streets to take all their belongings from their vehicle:  Continue Reading