Police investigate recent robberies

Penn and Philadelphia Police are investigating possible connections between a recent rash of robberies near campus and further into West Philadelphia. To help prevent further incidents, Rush advised students to avoid traveling between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. -- and especially between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., when it is darkest and the streets are most deserted -- since Spectaguard coverage ends at 3 a.m. "If you have to travel between four and five, and you think you've had a few drinks and you think you might not be 100 percent cognizant of your surroundings, stay at your friend's house or call the Penn Police," Rush said. There have been three nighttime robberies just off campus in the past two weeks, one involving a Penn alumna who was held up early in the morning on the 3900 block of Pine Street on September 2. A woman approached the alumna from the rear at about 5 a.m., grabbed her purse, pushed her down a flight of stairs and jumped into a dark gray sedan. Police are looking into the possibility that the same getaway car may have been involved in other recent crimes handled by the Philadelphia Police, according to University Police Chief Maureen Rush. "There's definitely promise there, especially with the vehicle -- that's also been involved in some robberies further west," said Rush, who did not elaborate on the PPD's cases. The woman sought in connection with the September 2 robbery is described as a heavy-set black female in her late 20s to early 30s. At the time of the incident, she was wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt, and her black hair was pulled back in a short ponytail. In the second recent off-campus robbery, which occurred at about 4 a.m. on September 5 on the 4100 block of Walnut Street, two male students were returning home from the 7-Eleven on 42nd and Walnut streets when a man wielding a gun forced them to lie face down on the ground. The man took $20 in cash and a watch. A witness called the police, but no arrests were made. The third robbery occurred on September 2 at about 11:30 p.m. on 41st Street between Walnut and Locust streets. A female University student was walking with a friend when two teenage boys grabbed her purse. When she would not release the purse, the boys dragged her to the ground. The student finally released her purse, which contained a cell phone, and the boys fled. Police arrested a juvenile in connection with the incident and are looking for the other alleged assailant.