The Currency One check-cashing agency at 16 S. 40th Street was robbed yesterday morning. No one was injured during the incident. According to University Police, a man forced his way into the agency as a female employee was opening it up for the day. The man duct-taped the employee's hands together and forced her to lie down on the floor. He then took $8,000 in cash and escaped west on Ludlow Street. It was unclear as of last night whether the man had a gun or was only simulating a weapon with his hand. The employee described the suspect as an African-American man in his 20s. He was wearing a yellow sweatshirt. Philadelphia Police are handling the investigation. Just one day earlier, a male University employee was robbed by two unarmed men on the 100 block of South 32nd Street at about 10 p.m. The employee was walking north on 32nd Street toward a bus stop on Chestnut Street, when he saw two men descend the stairwell next to the former General Electric building. The men followed and stopped the employee. One then said, "Give me your money." The employee took out his wallet and handed the men the contents, $185 in cash. The two men then fled back up the stairs and ran west on Walnut Street. One man is described as African American, 18-to-25 years old and between 5'6" and 5'9" tall, with a medium build, a dark complexion and short black hair. The other assailant is described as an African-American male around 20 years old, about 5'10" tall, with a think build, a black complexion and bushy black hair.
-- Caryn Tamber
