An attempted theft on the 4000 block of Locust Street shared similarities with the "flash mob" style attacks at Temple University last month. | DP File Photo
Around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning, two men robbed a Penn-affiliated man near 41st and Pine streets at gunpoint, the latest in a string of West Philadelphia robberies.
Two young men approached the complainant armed with what the victim thought was a gun, the Division of Public Safety said in an email Sunday morning. A UPennAlert went out at 2:49 a.m. warning of a “Robbery with a Weapon” and “additional police and security officers in the area.” The alert identified the suspects as “2 black males, heights 6’1”-6’2”,” wearing sweatshirts.
It was not immediately clear how the victim was affiliated with Penn.
The men demanded the complainant’s headphones, rifled through his book bag, took a few additional items, struck him over the head and fled down 41st Street toward Spruce. The victim was not seriously injured and did not require medical treatment.
Penn and Philadelphia Police both responded to the scene and managed to recover some of the complainant’s items after canvassing the area.
DPS sent out an all-clear message at 3:00 a.m.
This robbery comes just a few days after an incident on 44th and Osage streets in which a man had his cellphone taken by a group of teenagers. Since the New Year there has been a string of similar incidents throughout the University City/West Philadelphia community.
On Jan. 21, a woman reported to police that a group of teenage boys attempted to get into her car while she was inside it on 48th and Windsor streets.
Just nine days before then, a 53-year-old man was attacked, beaten and robbed by a group of 10 to 12 teenagers near Clark Park on 45th and Chester streets. The attack was stopped by a passerby honking her horn until the teens walked away.
On Jan. 8, a 40-year-old man was robbed by three men with a gun at the corner of 47th and Springfield streets. Police were alerted to the location of the victim’s cell phone thanks to a tracking app and the three suspects, aged between 15 and 17-years-old, were detained for investigation.
DPS urged recipients of the UPennAlert to utilize their escort services as well as to sign up for the Penn Guardian System.
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