Two young men masked with red bandanas and brandishing a BB-gun robbed a woman last week near 48th and Osage, but were quickly caught by police a couple of blocks away.

Police say two men approached the woman at about 10:20 p.m. on June 2 demanding money and credit cards. One was carrying what turned out to be a Beeman P-17 BB pistol and a third suspect later confessed to serving as lookout. The woman quickly called police and plainclothes officers from the 18th District spotted the three men near the 4900 block of Cedar Avenue. All three were captured nearby and the pistol, which was discarded during the pursuit, was recovered.

Two men were still in posession of the bandanas and all three confessed to the robbery.

A neighbor, Nancy, wrote us to describe a run-in she had very early Saturday morning. We wanted to pass it along just to keep folks alert. We have edited it for length.

I was sleeping and at 2 a.m. someone was repeatedly “buzzing” my front door. I live at 4702 Hazel, first floor. There are three apartment units in my building and 4 people who lived in the building.

There was a man standing at my door — tall, large (not overweight, but not a small person), black, wearing dark clothes and a dark baseball cap, in his thirties, no facial hair and no glasses. He did not seem intoxicated or insane. I did not open the main doors to the building and I only spoke to him through the glass.

He was holding a little piece of paper which he was acting like he was reading. He spoke very low so it was almost impossible for me to hear him. I could see the paper had just a couple scribbles or numbers on them. He said he was looking for “Lewis” (which is my name, and also on my mailbox in the vestibule). He told me my neighbors upstairs were in the hospital. It was very hard to communicate because of his low talking and mumbling. He said he was a tow-truck driver and he was dropping off their keys to a “Lewis.” It took awhile for the red flags to go off.

I think he was talking low so I would open the door in order to hear him. He wanted me to open the door for the keys (I never saw any keys, nor a tow truck…in fact there was no car running in the street or anything…he was clearly on foot).  He constantly referred to his little piece of paper, saying “Lewis.” Finally my boyfriend woke up and came out and said “who are you and why are you here?” and then we told him he had the wrong address and he left. We were both really frightened. It was all very suspicious. But if I had opened the door I do believe something really bad would have happened.

I called the police to let them know, but regrettably I did not have them come to my building for a report. I was very worried that he would try it down the road to someone else and someone would be hurt. I feel stupid for even engaging with him as long as I did, but I also feel very lucky. I am aware that there have been a string of robberies/muggings in my neighborhood and this guy had a lot of “tricks” so I want people to know and not fall for it and not get hurt.

Thanks for listening. And, by the way, none of my neighbors are in the hospital … they are all fine.

Thanks again and be careful. Don’t answer your door and always keep your door locked, especially if you have slacked off lately.

The full surveillance video of two young men who forced a man at gunpoint to withdraw money from an ATM machine and buy them cigarettes and cigars has been made available.

As we reported earlier, the two men approached the victim at 4717 Cedar Ave. at about 1 a.m. on May 24, pointed a handgun at him and demanded cash. They took the man’s cell phone and walked him to the Sunoco at 45th and Baltimore Ave. and ordered him to withdraw money from his account. All three left the store, but returned a few minutes later to buy items with the man’s debit card.

Both transactions are clearly visible on the full video below.

The men led the victim to 46th Street, made him lay on the sidewalk and then fled. Police believe the two suspects may be linked to other robberies in the area, including one a few minutes after this one.

Anyone with information should contact the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3185.

Update – Click here for the full surveillance video of the suspects.

Police are searching for two young males they believe are responsible for at least four muggings in less than an hour early Tuesday morning. The robberies are the latest in a number of muggings at gunpoint in the last week.

The details on each robbery on Tuesday morning, which were committed with a handgun:

• 12:45 a.m. – 4800 block of Warrington. Two cell phones were taken.

• 1:05 a.m. – 4700 block Cedar. A driver’s license and cell phone were taken.

• 1:20 a.m. – 6000 block of Market. A cell phone, credit cards and a vehicle were taken. The vehicle was later recovered.

• 1:30 a.m. – 200 block of S. 48th. Car keys were taken and the victim’s vehicle, which was parked on the 4800 block of Locust, was later reported missing.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection of a series of gunpoint robberies over the last week. Police believe the boy was part of a group of young men that robbed at least four people since last Thursday.

The teenager, who was not named, was arrested following two attempted robberies within five minutes early Saturday morning near 45th and Chestnut and 43rd and Market. Police say he and at least two others were also responsible for a robbery at 43rd and Haverford at about 10:40 p.m. on Friday and another at 46th and Market at about 11:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Police say that the first robbery Saturday took place at about 12:55 a.m., when a group of young males began following two women in their mid 20s at 45th and Market. The women stopped at 45th and Chestnut to see if the group would walk past and that is when the young men attempted to rob them. One woman ran across the street and another fled and jumped into a cab.

About five minutes later, police say the same group committed a robbery near 43rd and Market.

Police have been investigating a robbery spree over the last week involving groups of young men, often wearing gray hoodies.

The 15-year-old is, so far, the only person who has been charged for the robberies. Police would not say if the same teen was part of a group of three young men who robbed a man on May 18 near 44th and Sansom at about 6:15 p.m.

A man was also robbed early Saturday near 46th and Springfield. A group of five young men stole his cell phone, wallet and sneakers. Last Tuesday a woman was robbed at gunpoint two young males near 49th and Larchwood. The 15-year-old mentioned above was not charged with those robberies.

 

View Mid-May robbery spree in a larger map

Lt. Brian McBride of the Philadelphia Police Department’s University City sub-division will be at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) to talk to residents about crime issues in their neighborhood.

McBride’s meeting with residents last month proved fruitful when a resident’s tip led to the arrest of a man who had been stealing packages off of porches.

Meetings with McBride are held on the third Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the large classroom on the lower level.