Two armed robberies that appear to be related occurred on the west edge of the Penn Patrol zone Monday night, according to the Division of Public Safety.
Both incidents involved Penn students.
At about 9:30 p.m., one male student and one male unaffiliated with the University were robbed by three males on bicycles while walking in the area of 42nd and Ludlow streets.
About 45 minutes later, two male students reported that they had been walking in the area of 43rd Street and Osage Avenue and were also robbed by three males on bicycles.
The physical description of these males and their method of operation were very similar to the robbery on Ludlow Street, according to DPS spokesman Jared Hupp.
The three suspects all appear to be juveniles with dark complexions ranging from 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 3 inches. They were about 16-18 years old and wearing dark baggy pants and white, oversized T-shirts. All three males were riding smaller BMX-style bicycles, and one bicycle was missing its seat.
In both instances, two of the males appeared to possess black handguns and demanded money. Suspects fled westbound from both locations.
No injuries were reported. A wallet and cash were stolen in the first incident, while two wallets, cash, a cell phone and an iPhone were stolen in the second incident.
Penn Police is working with Philadelphia Police on a joint task force to identify and arrest the perpetrators involved in the robberies.
There were also three additional robberies in the last ten days, including one involving a Penn student.
On Aug. 29 at about 8:45 a.m. a female student reported that an unknown suspect approached her on the 3800 block of Woodland Walk, pushed her, took her wallet and fled southbound on 38th Street.
On Aug. 28 at about 5:30 p.m., a male unaffiliated with the University was on the 4200 block of Spruce Street when he was assaulted by a male offender who tried to remove some of his belongings. Penn Police located and arrested the alleged offender, Howard Thompson, 57, of the 5800 block of Willows Avenue.
On Aug. 28 at about 8:30 a.m., a female unaffiliated with the University reported that an unknown suspect grabbed her bag near the intersection of 41st and Pine streets and fled westbound on Pine Street in a vehicle.
Vice President of Public Safety Maureen Rush warned that students should be aware during the first few weeks of the school year as criminals try to take advantage of new students unfamiliar with living in the city.
DPS has increased police and security presence throughout the Penn Patrol Zone, and specifically within the western boundaries where a pattern of crime has been occurring recently.
The Penn Patrol zone extends west from 30th to 43rd streets and north from Baltimore Avenue to Market Street.
