Surveillance photo
A robber with brass knuckles and possibly a gun held up a Lawndale mobile phone store and roughed up the clerk on Christmas Eve. Now, detectives seek the public’s help in identifying the thug.
Last week, police posted video of the suspect on YouTube. The clip was not recovered from the crime scene, but was found in a nearby phone store that the robber also visited, but did not hold up, police said.
The crime occurred at the A-Mobile store at 6347 Rising Sun Ave. at about 1:19 p.m. The robber entered the store, brandished brass knuckles and appeared to be concealing a gun in his sweatshirt, two employees said. The crook demanded money and phones, walked behind a cashier’s counter and grabbed one employee by the neck.
Moments later, the robber struck an employee several times in the back of the head with an unknown object, prompting a struggle between the two. Eventually, the robber fled on foot and was last seen running eastbound on Levick Street.
The crook was described as black and thin with a black jacket, black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Visit the Philadelphia Police channel on YouTube.com to view the video. Call 215–686-TIPS or text to PPDTIP to report information. ••
