As the number of package deliveries increases before and during holidays, so does package theft. A neighbor sent this information and a warning to fellow West Philly residents to be extra careful receiving packages, especially during the holiday season.

“Today I got a call from a friendly stranger who happened to be waiting in a car across the street from my apartment to give a friend a ride. He saw four teens walking down the 4600 block of Spruce, doing what looked like checking porches for packages. When they got to my porch, they saw a package, opened it, and the friendly neighbor got out of his car to stop them, at which point they ran away with half of the contents of the box. Since my buzzer doesn’t work, my phone number is on my front door, which is how he managed to contact me. I came home and filed a police report.”

A 21-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot in the face during an attempted robbery last night near 51st Street and Willows Avenue. He is expected to survive.

The victim told police that another man came up to him at about 9:45 p.m. and tried to rob him, then took out a handgun and shot him once in the mouth. The suspect then ran down 51st Street toward Pentridge.

Police said that they have encountered the victim before. “A neighborhood beef has not been ruled out,” said Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives.

Teddy bears and candles remain near the spot where Zykia Sanders was killed early Saturday. (Photo by Mike Lyons)

Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who murdered 22-year-old student Zykia Sanders early Saturday morning at the West Park Apartments near 44th and Market streets.

Sanders was leaving a party with a small group of people at a high-rise building when two people in a four-door sedan fired at the crowd. A bullet struck Sanders in the back as she ran from the shooter.

Police believe Sanders, who lived at West Park with her grandmother, was not the intended target of the shooting. She was a student at The University of Phoenix and planned to graduate in June.

Police are urging anyone with information to call  215-686-3334 or 3335.

Zykia Sanders.

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.