Police are on the hunt for the people responsible for attacking and robbing several women in South Philadelphia.
Lisa Zheng says she was returning home after leaving the Sugarhouse Casino on April 19. As she was walking towards her house on South Fairhill Street, Zheng says she was approached by a robber who chased her down an alley, knocked her to the ground and stole $800 in cash.
“Every day I open the back door, I’m so scared,” she said.
Zheng is one of four women who police say were attacked and robbed in South Philadelphia within the past two weeks.
On April 26, another victim, who did not want to be identified, says she was also returning home after being at the Sugarhouse Casino that night. As she approached her house on the 2600 block of South 3rd Street, police say a suspect, described as a 25 to 30-year-old man driving a green car, punched her in the face, grabbed her purse and told her, “give me your bag b***,” before fleeing the scene. The woman’s purse contained casino chips and $550 in cash.
“It’s very disturbing,” said the woman. “I’m not comfortable getting out of my house now. I have my fiancé walking me to my dad’s house. I just can’t be here anymore.”
The victim’s neighbor says she heard her screaming shortly after the attack.
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“She was on her step,” said Lisa Wilson. “She was just shaking, traumatized.”
Police say a third woman was robbed on Monday around 8 p.m. on the 1500 block of South 8th Street. A teen boy approached her and stole her cellphone before fleeing the scene, according to investigators.
Finally, on Tuesday, a fourth woman was robbed at a bus stop on the 1200 block of South 8th Street. Police say a man and a 15-year-old teen girl ripped the purse from her shoulder before running away.
“They’re similar in the proximity on 8th Street,” said Officer Michael Duffy of the Philadelphia Police Department. “They’re only three blocks apart. The information is the same in both instances.”
Detectives are investigating whether the same people were responsible for all four incidents. If you have any information, please call Philadelphia Police.
