Police are investigating armed robberies that struck two area businesses over winter break.
No one was injured in either incident, and no arrests have been made.
On Dec. 26 at about 4:45 p.m., a man walked into the Metropolitan Bakery -- located at 4013 Walnut St. -- and held up two store employees at gunpoint, demanding money from the register. No customers were present at the time.
The man fled west on Walnut Street with $650 from the register.
The robber is described as a light-skinned black or Latino male in his late 20s or early 30s. He reportedly wore a black wool hat and a black leather puffy jacket and is about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build and medium-length beard.
According to owner Jim Lilly, the hold-up is the first major robbery to occur at Metropolitan Bakery.
"The fact that it was very quiet lent itself to a robbery," Lilly said. "Someone just saw we were open. There was no one around. There were no possibilities of eyewitnesses, and they took advantage."
Lilly does not believe the robbery will have an adverse effect on his business.
"That's not what concerns me," he said. "I'm just concerned about the safety of my employees and my customers. Anytime anyone pulls out a gun, it's a serious thing."
Lilly also said that there have been security systems in place at the bakery to try to prevent crime, but would not elaborate on what specific measures were in place.
On Dec. 21 at about 9:45 p.m., two men attempted to rob the Wawa convenience store at 3604 Chestnut St. One walked up to the register and handed the cashier a note demanding money.
He then partially drew what looked like a gun before hiding it again and fleeing the store.
Witnesses described the one robber as about 26 years old with a thin build. He is reportedly between five feet 10 inches and six feet tall.
The other was described as a male in his early 30s. He was said to be wearing dark clothes at the time of the robbery.
This was the second time an area Wawa has been robbed in the past four months. The Wawa located at 3744 Spruce St. was robbed at gunpoint on Sept. 30.
