Wave of six gunpoint robberies hits U. area

Six gunpoint robberies -- three of which involved University students -- took place on or near campus in the last 10 days, though without any injuries, University Police Sergeant Thomas Rambo, said yesterday. Rambo said University Police apprehended suspects in the four gunpoint robberies closest to campus. In the other two incidents -- on at 42nd and Pine streets and the other in the 4400 block of Spruce Street -- University Police made no arrests. And, according to Rambo, a worker at the Encore Books store on 38th Street received injuries to the head during a burglary there last Thursday. The injuries required treatment at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he said. A male who had been in the store for about an hour struck the employee in teh head with a three-foot pipe before the theft, Rambo said. He added that a witness in the store was struck on the arm by the pipe. Rambo said that he did not know the exten to of the employee's injuries or the value of the stolen property. Darryl Wheeler, the manager at Encore Books, declined to comment yesterday on the incident. Rambo said no one had been arrested in connection with the crime. In the first gunpoint robbery, which occurred just after 2 p.m. last Thursday, four males wielding guns robbed the Foot Locker store in the Shops at Penn complex at 3429 Walnut Street. Rambo said the males stole two racks of clothing before fleeing in an automobile. Several University Police units responding to the call pursued the suspects west on Walnut Street, until the suspects jumped out of the car and fled on foot. After continuing their pursuit on foot, Rambo said, University Police officers apprehended three of the four suspects at 47th Street and Fairmont Avenue. No injuries were reported. In the early morning hours of Friday, Rambo said two additional -- and related -- gunpoint robberies involving University students occurred about 45 minutes apart. Following the second robbery, University Police apprehended two suspects and charged them in connection with both robberies, according to Rambo. The first robbery occurred just after 1 a.m. Friday when the two males robbed a University student at 4109 Walnut Street. Rambo said the suspects stole $15 in cash and a $300 watch before fleeing on foot. The second robbery happened a short time later at 1:50 a.m. near 3803 Locust Walk, Rambo said. He said that the two males, who were later apprehended, reportedly robbed two University students of cash and watches. After University Police made the arrests, Rambo said a revolver was recovered adn teh two suspects were also identified in connection with the first robbery. No one was injured in either robbery, Rambo said. In a fourth and unrelated gunpoint robbery, a male University student was robbed at gunpoint Friday just before 9 a.m. outside the Provident Bank location at 3911 Walnut Street. Rambo said two University Police officers in the area pursued a suspect immediately after the robbery, apprehending him a short time later. The student was not injured. On Sunday evening, two additional unrelated gunpoint robberies, took place about an hour apart from each other, Rambo said. Just past 10:30 p.m., a person not affiliated with the University reported a gunpoint robbery at 42nd and Pine streets. University Police made no arrests, Rambo said. Then, a little before midnight, a person not affiliated with the University reported being robbed at gunpoint in the 4400 block of Spruce Street. University Police made no arrests in that case, either, Rambo said. There were no injuries reported. In an unrelated incident, Rambo said University Police received a report of a simple assault at 2 a.m. Saturday at 3809 Locust Walk, the Sigma Chi fraternity house. Rambo said a male not affiliated with the University was taken to the hospital, while the alleged perpetrator fled to the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house. University Police made no arrests but advised the victim to file a private complaint.

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