Robbery suspect worked at nearby Uni-Mart

Chester Beckett, the suspect arrested for last Thursday's armed robbery of Baskin Robbins, was described as an intelligent and well-educated individual who won an award last year for outstanding customer service while working at Uni-Mart. The suspect's brother is a Philadelphia Police officer who regularly patrols the University City area -- and was one of the first officers to respond to reports of the robbery. Beckett -- who has not yet been formally charged with robbing the popular campus ice cream store at gunpoint -- broke his leg sometime since then and is currently under police guard at Misericordia Hospital, University Police Detective John Peterson said. Peterson added that Beckett had apparently been robbed shortly before allegedly robbing Baskin Robbins at approximately 8:30 p.m. Uni-Mart store manager Dilip Patel said he was surprised to hear that Beckett, whom he described as a model employee, "had become a bad guy." Patel explained that Beckett had worked at Uni-Mart for approximately a year before beginning to miss work repeatedly. A Uni-Mart employee who requested anonymity said Beckett was not fired and had left the store of his own accord. Beckett, who is said to be in his late 30s, most recently worked behind the Blimpie sandwich counter the store added last summer. In late August, Beckett was awarded a 2-by-1 foot plaque signed by executives from the company's corporate offices recognizing his "exceptional service." Jill Swanson, a spokesperson for the State College, Pa.-based Uni-Marts, Inc. -- which has approximately 400 stores throughout six states -- said only approximately 90 of the company's 3,300 employees receive the award each year. Members of the University community and several Philadelphia Police officers shopping at Uni-Mart expressed shock at Beckett's arrest and described the suspect as an intelligent, good-natured employee whom no one expected to commit such an act. The Uni-Mart employee who had requested anonymity said he had usually worked the late-night shift with Beckett, who "really wasn't a rotten person" and got along well with everybody. "You would never really know if he was upset or mad," the employee said of Beckett. Several sources also said Beckett owned several local businesses in recent years -- including the 7-Eleven convenience store at 42nd and Walnut streets -- and was well-educated, having graduated from LaSalle University. Beckett has two young children but is said to have divorced his wife. His brother, David Beckett, patrols the 40th Street area for the 18th District. David Beckett said he recently graduated from police academy and began patrolling the area shortly after his brother left Uni-Mart, adding that he has not spoken with Chester in several years. Although Beckett is listed in stable condition, Detective Peterson said he did not know when he will be released from Misericordia Hospital at 53rd Street and Cedar Avenue. The suspect cannot be formally arraigned on robbery charges until then. The entire robbery -- which Baskin Robbins' owner said was the first at the store since he purchased it in November 1993 -- was caught on the store's video security camera. The suspect allegedly robbed the popular campus location of less than $100 in cash, all in $5 and $10 bills. University and Philadelphia Police officers apprehended Chester Beckett at 36th and Preston streets approximately two hours after the robbery.