Robbers armed with a shotgun and a Taser-type weapon have victimized two pedestrians and a doughnut shop in the Oxford Circle area in recent weeks, according to Philadelphia police, who seek the public’s help in identifying the culprits.
Capt. John McGinnis, the commander of Northeast Detectives, issued a memo on March 12 detailing the crimes, two of which occurred within 10 minutes on March 8.
At 12:50 a.m., officers from the 2nd district were called to the 1000 block of Levick St. and met a man who told them he had been robbed by a man and woman. The victim said he was walking toward his home when a woman approached him and asked for directions to a supermarket. He then saw a man following him on foot.
Within moments, the male suspect whistled toward the victim, brandished a “pump-action” shotgun, threatened to shoot the victim and demanded valuables. The woman then placed a Taser device to the victim’s arm and shocked him with it.
The robbers took the victim’s iPhone, wallet and clothing, then fled on foot, police said. The victim was uninjured.
About 10 minutes later, a man with a shotgun and woman with a Taser robbed another man on the 1000 block of Howell St. The crooks used a similar method and made off with a cell phone, wallet, clothing and $20 cash. No injuries were reported.
Another shotgun robbery occured on Feb. 23 at the Dunkin’ Donuts, 6323 Castor Ave. A manager told police that two men wearing hoodies entered the shop at about 6:45 p.m., brandished a shotgun and demanded cash from the register. The robbers then fled on foot with an unspecified amount of cash. No injuries were reported.
In the earlier case, the manager described the robbers as two black men in their late teens or early 20s. One was 5 feet 6 inches tall and the other 5 feet 3 inches tall.
In the two other cases, victims described one suspect as a black man in his early 20s with a “Sunni” beard. The female suspect was described as “light-skinned” and in her early 20s.
Call police at 215–686–3153 to report information about the crimes. ••
