Armed Bike Bandit Targets Pa. Gas Stations, Businesses: Cops

Lehigh Valley investigators are on the hunt for an alleged robber who is using a bicycle for his getaway

Lehigh Valley investigators are on the hunt for an alleged robber with an unusual getaway vehicle. Police say the armed robber committed nearly half a dozen robberies all while using a bicycle to escape the crime scene.

One of those robberies happened back on October 16 at the U.S. Petroleum station just off Route 22 in Hanover Township, Northampton County, according to investigators. Police say a man in a hooded sweatshirt showed up with a gun and stole around $800.

“The guy showed a gun,” said the manager of the station. “I couldn’t do anything. Whatever he asked me to do, I did. I gave him money.”

Police say a security camera captured the suspect making his escape on a bicycle.

“It’s a little unusual,” said Detective Mike Munch of the Colonial Regional Police Department. “Specifically in that area because there’s no sidewalk and it’s a heavily travelled road. So it’s difficult to ride a bicycle in that area.”

Detectives believe the same suspect held up as many as six gas stations and businesses in the Lehigh Valley from mid-October to last Tuesday. NBC10 spoke to another one of the suspect’s victims.

“He pulled out the gun,” said Humphrey Andusaya of Jordan Park Beverage. “When he walked out, I saw he left his bike out there. He picked it up and he just took off.”

Investigators say there’s no way the bike bandit can travel between stickups so fast without somehow using a car.

The suspect is described as a man standing between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8. During one of the robberies, police say he was wearing a Gray sweatshirt and a black, red and white knit cap with the word “Blackhawks” on it.

If you have any information on the identity of the suspect, please call police.
 

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