Philadelphia police are hunting for three men after an armed robbery early Sunday at a Popeyes on the 5600 block of Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia. Investigators say the suspects forced their way into the restaurant, grabbed between $1,000 and $3,000 from a safe, then took off on foot toward 57th Street. One employee suffered minor injuries.
What police say
According to 6abc, officers were called to the Popeyes early Sunday morning and described the suspects as armed. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the surrounding blocks for witnesses as they work to identify the three people who bolted down Lancaster Avenue.
Signs of a pattern
The method used, a quick takeover to get at the safe, mirrors a string of fast-food robberies seen across the city in recent years. "They appear organized," police told 6abc in 2022 after a similar spree, noting that the same tactic of one or two suspects jumping the counter while others control exits keeps resurfacing in local cases.
How the city tracks these crimes
The city publishes reported incidents in an open database that lets residents and reporters track robberies by block and date. The Philadelphia Police Department's public data portal, OpenDataPhilly, maintains a "Crime Incidents" dataset that is updated daily and widely used for local reporting and research.
How to help
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department. The department's website lists an anonymous tip form and the tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergencies, call 311, per the Philadelphia Police Department.
