On a night when dozens gathered at a Northeast pub to pay tribute to the city’s two recently fallen firefighters, one heartless patron took the opportunity to steal from the dead men’s grieving families.
Philadelphia police are asking the public to help identify the thief and have released a video of the crime.
SmokeEaters Pub, at 7681 Frankford Ave., hosted a benefit for the families of Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney on Friday night following viewings for both men. Neary and Sweeney died April 9 while battling a five-alarm fire in Kensington.
During the benefit, an unknown man went to the basement of the bar at about 10:40 p.m., spotted gift baskets on a table and began raiding them for various items. The surveillance video shows the thief slashing open the cellophane wrapping with a pocketknife, reaching into the baskets and pocketing the contents.
The stolen objects included gift cards and other small items, police said.
The video lasts about two minutes. At one point, the thief seemed startled when another person entered the basement briefly. But the thief soon resumed his raid and left the camera’s view moments later.
He is described as white, about 40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and 280 to 300 pounds. He had short dark hair and wore light-color pants, a light-color T-shirt and a light-color button-down shirt with collar and short sleeves.
Call Northeast Detectives at 215–686–3153 or the police tip line at 215–686-TIPS to report information about the case. ••
