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

Just recently we reported a high number of car break-ins in the Cedar Park area and vicinity. On Friday, April 3, undercover cops from the 18th Police District arrested a man who was breaking into a van parked near 47th and Larchwood. The incident happened at around 12:45 p.m., according to a tweet by Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives.

When the unidentified man was brought in for questioning he confessed to 10 more thefts from vehicles. The man has 26 prior arrests, including 16 for burglary and theft, according to Murray.

It is not known yet which car break-ins this person had a hand in. Over the past month, there have been at least 15 thefts from vehicles reported in the area between S. 48th and 51st Streets and Spruce St. and Baltimore Ave., according to Crime Reports. Also there were four car break-ins just south of Baltimore Ave between 46th and 48th.

Police are still looking for the man who stole a bag filled with gold jewelry from a car parked near 52nd and Market Streets on September 2, at about 12:40 p.m. It was reported earlier this month that there was surveillance video of the incident, but the video wasn’t released until yesterday.

Southwest Detective Division is seeking public help in identifying and locating the person seen in the video who, police say, smashed the front passenger side window with a hammer, took a blue duffel bag with various gold jewelry items, worth approximately $66,000 (previously, it was reported that the value of the stolen jewelry was over $100,000), and fled on a bicycle.

The 74-year-old owner of the bag parked his car and went to the nearby Cash For Gold store to conduct some business, according to police. He was at the store for about 5 minutes, during which the theft took place.

If you have any information about the suspect, please contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184.

Here’s the video:

Thursday night was a busy night for police in West Philly, who responded to a report of a shooting near 50th and Osage and also apprehended a person in connection with a theft from a vehicle in the area. Here are the details.

A young man was shot twice in the leg at about 7:30 p.m. near 50th and Osage. The victim, a 23-year-old male, was walking on 50th Street heading toward Osage Avenue when he suddenly noticed he was being followed by three males, according to a police report. One of the males said to him “Yo, I got that weed”. When the victim turned around he noticed one of the males was armed with a black handgun. The victim then started to run when he heard multiple gunshots. As he was running he felt a pain in his right calf and noticed he was bleeding. He continued running until he noticed the police at 49th & Spruce Street. He was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania by fire rescue.

The suspects, described as young black males, two wearing all black clothing and the third wearing a sky blue hoody, ran South on 50th Street toward a grayish colored four-door Pontiac or Oldsmobile that was parked along the 400 block of S. 50th Street. The vehicle then fled North on 50th Street from Osage Avenue, according to police. A similarly described vehicle was involved in a robbery on March 12 on the 4600 block of Hazel Avenue.

West Philly Local readers reported that they heard at least eight gunshots last night. Police recovered nine 9mm fired cartridge casings and two bullet fragments at the scene.

Also on Thursday, at around 10:30 p.m.,18th District undercover police officers caught a man breaking into an unlocked car at 49th and Larchwood, arrested him and recovered the stolen belongings, according to a tweet by Joe Murray of Southwest Police Detectives.

The car he got into was unlocked and started trying doors around 45/Osage. Remember to lock your car. Nice job by the cops.

— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) March 21, 2014