Mugging spree hits at least four victims

and Erin Malec A mugging spree late last night resulted in at least four incidents within a five-block radius, at least two of which involved students. University Police officers at the scene of one of the muggings -- near Billybob's restaurant at 40th and Spruce streets -- said a suspect had robbed as many as five victims by pretending to carry a weapon. No one was injured in the incidents, all of which were reported to police between 11:30 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. The officers, who requested anonymity, explained that the incidents were likely the work of a single suspect, who began the spree on 42nd Street between Walnut and Sansom. The suspect then continued down Locust Street and up Spruce Street before presumably leaving the area. By 12:45 a.m., police had not released a description of the suspect. No arrests had been made this morning, but the officers confirmed that at least one of the students had been taken to the Philadelphia Police Department's 18th District headquarters to look at mugshots of possible suspects. And a Philadelphia Police spokesperson said the incidents were under investigation by the department's Southwest Detectives Bureau, who were still interviewing victims from two of the muggings at press time. But the spokesperson refused to comment on whether police had found witnesses to any of the incidents.