Six Northeast Philadelphia residents are among the 10 people robbed of thousands of dollars outside their homes after returning from area casinos. One victim lost $17,000 when robbed last week on the 2800 block of Welsh Road.
On Friday, police announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers.
Police believe robbers used a spotter who watched victims cash out their chips and relayed their descriptions to others, who then followed them and robbed them outside their homes.
Northeast Detectives are investigating all the robberies, which also involve victims in Upper Moreland Township, Montgomery County, South Philadelphia and North Philadelphia, Sgt. Dennis Rosenbaum of Northeast Detectives said Monday.
Police have the spotter in the last five robberies on surveillance tape from the SugarHouse casino on Delaware Avenue. He is seen watching the casino’s cashier window and talking on a cell phone.
“It’s the same guy,” Rosenbaum said.
The robberies began in December 2011, he said, and all involved two black men. Although victims’ descriptions of the robbers’ heights varied, they were all thought to be 25 to 30 years old. A late model silver Monte Carlo and a late model small silver sedan appear to be involved in the robberies, Rosenbaum said.
Most of the victims — including all of those from the Northeast — were of Asian descent, Rosenbaum said, and were coming home from SugarHouse.
During the two most recent robberies, the criminals were armed with Tasers.
On Sept. 16, a Rawle Street woman was accosted by two men, robbed of $8,000 in cash and jewelry and Tasered, police said. Rosenbaum said the woman was hospitalized because she was pregnant.
The Welsh Road robbery occurred two days later at about 4 a.m. Again, two men armed with a Taser were the culprits. While fighting to keep her purse from the robbers, the woman was slightly cut, Rosenbaum said, but police aren’t sure if she was cut by a knife or by her own keys.
Police have released some of the casino surveillance footage and are asking for the public’s assistance. To view the surveillance video: Visit The Philadelphia Police YouTube Channel or visit http://phillypolice.com/news
To submit a telephone tip, dial 215–686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847. Rosenbaum said tips also can be phoned in to detectives John Harrigan or Joseph Baird at 215–686–3153 or 3154. ••
