Masked Gunman Robs 5 Stores in 2 Days

Philadelphia Police are on the hunt for a serial robber who they say targeted five businesses within two days.

Last Wednesday, police say a gunman wearing a blue mask entered the Natural Coffee store on the 700 block of South 52nd Street around 6:30 p.m. The suspect allegedly pointed his gun at an employee and told her to “give up the money.” Police say the gunman then stole an undetermined amount of cash from the register before fleeing west on Webster from 52nd Street.
Police say the same suspect targeted four businesses the next day.

Shortly before 1 p.m., he allegedly entered the Cricket Mobile Store on the 5500 block of Baltimore Avenue armed with a handgun. Police say he jumped over the counter and pointed his gun at an employee, who ran into a back room and hid behind a locked door. Police say the suspect then stole an undetermined amount of cash from the register.

About an hour later, the suspect entered the Lucky 7 Food Market on North 57th Street, once again demanding money from an employee. Police say the employee and the suspect got into a scuffle during the robbery but the suspect managed to escape, fleeing south on 57th Street.

Later that night, at 7:20 p.m., police say an employee at Ace Cash Express on South 52nd Street was locking the door to the business when the suspect approached her, armed with a gun. Police say the gunman demanded to be let inside the store. The employee then pressed a panic alarm while the suspect tried several times to gain access to the cash register area. The suspect then allegedly stole $3 from the woman and then fled on foot south on 52nd Street.

Finally, less than an hour later, police say the suspect entered the Daslin Grocery Store on the 700 block of South 55th Street, pointed a gun at employees and demanded money. After the employees claimed they didn’t speak English, police say the suspect fled the scene without stealing any money.

The suspect is described as a 20-year-old dark-skinned man standing 5-foot-6. They also say he was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with white strings, gloves and jeans.