Police are on the hunt for armed robbers who are targeting local residents walking to and from the Frankford SEPTA Transportation center near Pratt and Penn streets in the Frankford section of the city.
The suspects have robbed nine victims since Dec. 22 with the most recent attack occurring around 6:30 a.m. Monday morning near the station.
“I didn’t take him serious until I saw the gun,” said the ninth victim, Jennifer Lewis. “I didn’t take him serious at all until he hit me.”
Another victim, Regina Washington, told NBC10 she was on her way to church around 6:10 a.m. Sunday when one of the suspects attacked her.
“Somebody came up behind me and pulled my hair and hit me in the back of the head with a gun,” Washington said. “He had a white hoodie on and he had a gun. When I saw the gun I automatically dropped everything. He said, ‘Give it up,’ and I dropped everything and I ran.”
Investigators told NBC10 the gunmen strike their targets when they’re isolated.
“There was no SEPTA or anything there,” Lewis said. “There was nothing! I screamed and there was nobody there.”
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Detectives are worried that the gunmen are getting bolder as the attacks continue.
“We don’t want it to escalate and that’s the problem,” said Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Dennis Rosenbaum. “They do have guns. We’re hoping people just give up what they have to give up but we’re working that area and we’re trying to end this situation but we want people to be on guard. “
The victims are warning people in the area to be cautious.
“Go in the parking lot, pay the extra three bucks,” Lewis said. “It ain’t worth it. Go with somebody else. I’ll never do it again.”
Police have increased their patrols in the area. If you have any information on the robberies, please call Philadelphia Police.
