Philadelphia Police believe the same man recently raped two women at different times within blocks of each other.
A cab picked up a 25-year-old woman at 20th and Walnut streets and dropped her off at Broad Street and Fairmount Avenue at about 4 a.m. Sunday Nov. 14.
As the woman was walking north on Broad, she was approached by an unknown man who offered to show her a shortcut to her residence. At a vacant lot the man forced the woman to the ground, choked her and raped her, police say. He then fled the scene with $283 of her money.
In a similar report, a 26-year-old woman taking a cab from 17th and Chancellor Streets in Center City was dropped off on the 1600 block of Brandywine Street between 2 and 3 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 20 when she was struck in the back of the head by an unknown man who demanded, “Give me your money,” as she was walking to her door, police say.
The woman punched the man and tried to run away. The man chased her, grabbed her, forced her to the ground and raped her, police say. The suspect then ran away with $100 from the woman’s purse.
Police say that both of the victims were returning home from Center City bars via taxicabs when approached by an unknown man. The rapist was described by both women as a black male, 5-foot-8 and in his late 20s or early 30s.
The attacker in the first rape called himself “Darryl” or “Derrick” and wore a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a black baseball cap.
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The attacker in the second rape was described as having a long beard and wearing blue jeans, a dark-colored jacket and black gloves.
Police also wouldn't rule out a possible connection between these attacks and recent rapes and strangulations in the Kensington section of the city.
If you have any information on the rapes, call Philadelphia Police Special Victim’s Unit at 215.685.3251.
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