Philadelphia Police Department are actively seeking the public's assistance in locating a suspect linked to a series of armed commercial robberies that have recently rocked West Philadelphia. Three businesses became the target of an armed suspect over a span of three consecutive days, starting October 7 and ending on October 9. According to surveillance footage and witness reports provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, the suspect is described as an older black male, seen wearing all black clothing.
The first incident took place at the Haverford Mini Market on Haverford Avenue, where at approximately 1:30 pm, the suspect entered the establishment and demanded money from an employee at gunpoint. He managed to quickly flee the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No physical harm came to the employees present during the heist, the Philadelphia Police Department reported.
The following day, Eagles Food Market on Chester Avenue became the next target. Officials stated that the man brandished a handgun at approximately 12:54 pm and successfully to compel an employee to hand over an undetermined amount of money. Once again, the assailant escaped without detection, leaving the store's staff unharmed but shaken.
The third case involved Vine Deli and Grocery on Simpson Street. Here, the suspect changed his approach, initially posing as a customer to purchase cigars before displaying his weapon and demanding access to the cash register. A tussle ensued as an employee attempted to disarm the assailant, which resulted in the suspect being forced to hastily retreat empty-handed. This altercation, which could have easily escalated to dangerous levels, fortunately resulted in no injuries to those involved, as per the Philadelphia Police Department.
In response to these crimes, the Philadelphia Police Department has issued a call to action, urging anyone with information about the suspect's identity or whereabouts to step forward. They've stressed that the public should not approach the suspect but should instead dial 911 immediately. Tips can also be submitted confidentially via telephone at 215.686.TIPS (8477), or by texting the same number. An electronic form is available for anonymous tip submissions as well.
The Philadelphia Police Department has also released surveillance footage related to these incidents on their YouTube Channel in hopes of garnering crucial public assistance. The Southwest Detective Division is at the forefront of these investigations and can be contacted directly with any pertinent information at 215-686-3183/3184. The pertinent information from each of these cases has been cataloged under specific DC numbers, which serve to catalogue and track the incidents as the search for the suspect continues.