The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Feb. 28 and March 4. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association.
REPORT: Between 2-5 p.m. March 11, out-of-town complainant had a wallet taken without permission from a locker inside the Historical Society, 1300 Locust St.
REPORT: Between 8 a.m.-9:15 p.m. March 12, the door to complainant’s apartment in the 1100 block of Spruce Street appeared to have been pried and a hole was made in the hallway drywall. Nothing was taken. Sixth District Officer Sweeney lifted fingerprints from the scene.
REPORT: At 4:10 a.m. March 13, complainant was in the 1200 block of St. James Street when a male approached, asking complainant if he wanted to buy drugs. Complainant refused and the male then asked for complainant’s wallet and phone, and the complainant complied. The male left, heading north on 13th Street. The offender was described as a black male, 30s, 6-foot-2, with a beard and wearing a tan jacket.
REPORT: At 12:30 a.m. March 14, a male took a school bag and three bottles of liquor from the restaurant, 1229 Spruce St. The offender was described as a white male, 40s, wearing brown pants and a black jacket.
REPORT: At 1 p.m. March 14, complainant exited her apartment inside 850 Locust St., leaving door unlocked, to visit another tenant, and returned at 4 p.m. to find cash missing from her apartment.
REPORT: Between noon-3:30 p.m. March 16, complainant’s apartment in the 1200 block of Spruce Street had the door forced open and several computers were taken. Sixth District Officer Trautz attempted to lift fingerprints. Workers were reported to be in the building at the time.
REPORT: Between 8 a.m.-7 p.m. March 16, complainant’s apartment in the 900 block of Pine Street had the bars pulled off the rear window; a laptop and jewelry were taken. Sixth District Officer Trautz attempted to lift fingerprints.
ARREST: At 2:10 a.m., March 17, complainant was walking in the 300 block of South Camac Street when a male ran by and snatched her handbag. A witness gave chase and caught the male. Sixth District Officer Loggia was on patrol and saw the male being chased, and took custody of the 30-year-old alleged offender with a South Philadelphia address, who was charged with robbery and related offenses.
REPORT: Between 8:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. March 19, complainant’s apartment in the 1300 block of Spruce Street had the grate over the kitchen window pried open and jewelry was taken from inside. Sixth District Officer McCauley lifted fingerprints from the scene.
REPORT: Between 2:30 a.m.-noon March 19, complainant’s secured bicycle was taken from the 1300 block of Locust Street.
ARRESTS: On March 20, large crowds of young adults and teenagers converged on South Street, an apparent result of the use of electronic social networking. The crowds grew so large that it became necessary, for public safety reasons, to shut down South Street to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic and clear the street. As groups were dispersed toward Broad Street, some scattered both north and south of South Street. At midnight, a complainant in the 1300 block of Pine Street was punched in the face by a person in one of the groups. The incident was witnessed by Highway Patrol Officers Martinez and Evans, who arrested an 18-year-old female alleged offender with a North Philadelphia address and charged her with simple assault. At 12:35 a.m., Sixth District Sgt. Newsome observed a disorderly group in the 1200 block of Spruce Street and arrested two females, ages 16 and 17, for fighting and inciting the crowd. Both were charged with disorderly conduct. Sixth District Officer Nheb was punched in the face while making an assault arrest at 15th and Market streets in the Ninth District. Deployment strategies against flash mobs are being formulated at the highest levels of city government and will be implemented as soon as completed.