Philadelphia Police are investigating whether the same man is responsible for a series of smash-and-grab burglaries at restaurants and convenience stores across Center City Philadelphia over the past three months.
A man, who has a similar description, has been captured on surveillance video throwing a brick through either a glass front or side door at three locations in different parts of Center City.
The first robbery took place at the Pac-a-Deli convenience store at 12th and Walnut Streets in the Gayborhood around 4 a.m. on Oct. 2. Once inside, he took the cash register, police said.
The next incident took place around 2:45 a.m. on Dec. 1 at the Palm Tree Gourmet convenience store at 1940 Pine Street in the Rittenhouse Square section of the city. Again, the man threw a brick through the front door and went for the cash register. Police say the man got away with $200.
At 4:10 a.m. on Dec. 9, a third robbery took place at Gavin's Cafe at 25th and Pine Streets. In this case, the suspect threw a brick through a side glass door and made off with $190 from a cash register, according to police.
That same morning, three other restaurants in the area -- Resurrection Ale House, Honey's Sit & Eat and Dmitri's -- were burglarized by a man who threw either a brick or planter through glass front doors, police said. Only at one of the spots, Dmitri's, was he able to swipe cash.
Another robbery on Dec. 8 at Omega Pizza located at 22nd and South Streets, also has the same trademarks of the other crimes. However, a brick was thrown through a window instead of the door.
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Police have released several surveillance videos showing the male, who has a thin build and wears dark clothing and a hat.
Authorities have asked anyone with information to call 215.686.8477.
Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.
