Police arrest suspected robber

Police have caught the man believed to be responsible for two robberies just off campus in the past three weeks. Philadelphia Police arrested the man, whose name has not yet been released, on Monday, after he robbed a University student on 33rd and Powelton streets. The suspect is in custody for the latest robbery, but police must obtain a warrant before they can continue to hold him for the two previous incidents, Penn Det. Supervisor William Danks said yesterday. "We have identified the perpetrator and we have a warrant pending," Danks said. He said police expect to have the warrant within the next week. Penn Police believe the man took part in the robbery of a male University employee on the 100 block of South 32nd Street and a male University student on the 100 block of South 45th Street. In the first robbery, the employee was walking north on 32nd Street at about 10 p.m on November 13 when he saw two men descend the stairwell next to the Left Bank construction site. The men stopped the employee and demanded his money. The employee handed the two men $185 from his wallet, and the men fled. One of the suspects was described as African American, between 18 and 25 years old, 5'6" to 5'9" tall, with a medium build, a dark complexion and short black hair. The other man was described as African American, around 20 years old, 5'10" tall, with a thin build, a dark complexion and bushy black hair. In the second robbery, a University student was approached by two men on the 100 block of South 45th Street on November 14 at about 6 p.m. One of the men said he had a gun, but the weapon was never displayed. The student gave the men his backpack, which contained his wallet and watch. The two men then fled. The two men were described as African American, in their late teens or early 20s. Both were wearing dark clothing at the time.