The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between July 10-22. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477).
INCIDENTS
— At 10:45 p.m. July 6 (reported July 10), a man walking in the 300 block of South Quince Street witnessed a teenager with a gun. The man told police he saw four teenage males, two sitting on each side of the block, and that one of the teens asked him for a cigarette. When the man turned toward him, he saw that the teen was holding a gun. The man escaped without harm. The teens were described as black and between ages 14-18. One was wearing a red polo shirt with a white stripe; another was in a black T-shirt; and a third male, about 5-feet, 5-inches tall, was clad in a white T-shirt. No description for the fourth teen was provided. According to police, the descriptions of the teens matched those of the culprits in a robbery that occurred 10 minutes later at 10th and Cypress streets. Central Detective Division is investigating the possible connection.
— Between 9 p.m. June 28 and 8 a.m. June 29 (reported by phone July 10 to the DPR Unit), a 4-foot-tall spruce plant was stolen from in front of a residence in the 200 block of Quince Street. Then, between noon July 9 and noon July 11, several potted plants were pilfered along the same block.
— At 6:50 a.m. July 16, a delivery-truck driver discovered that a laptop, a carry bag and keys were taken from his truck, which was unsecured as he made a delivery in the 900 block of Walnut Street.
— At 8:50 a.m. July 16, police responding to a call about a strong odor found a male’s badly decomposed body in an apartment in the 200 block of South 13th Street. The male had been shot several times. The Homicide Unit later identified a suspect, who shot and killed himself in York. The suspect was the son of the victim’s girlfriend. Police said the homicide resulted from apparent domestic discord.
— At 9:30 p.m. July 16, someone stole a woman’s handbag from under her seat as she dined inside Mercado, 1216 Spruce St. Witnesses described the culprit as a black male, 6-feet tall with a thin build, light complexion, star tattoo on his face and a small Mohawk haircut. He was wearing a blue shirt and khaki shorts.
— At 12:15 a.m. July 17, a male snatched an iPhone from someone’s hand outside 1208 Walnut St., then fled north on 12th Street. The suspect was described as black, about 18 and wearing a white vest and white jeans.
— Between 6:30-10:15 p.m. July 17, someone stole a wallet from the center console of a 2008 Chrysler in the paid garage at 1305 Walnut St. The car had been unlocked.
— Between 11 p.m. July 17 and 9 a.m. July 18, someone made off with a secured bicycle in the 1000 block of Pine Street.
— At 6 a.m. July 18, a customer at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 1324 Walnut St. encountered a man armed with a knife. The man told the customer he had been in prison for 15 years, then pulled out the knife and held it “in a threatening manner.” The man was described as white or Hispanic and in his 40s, clad in a turquoise polo shirt.
— At 10:15 p.m. July 18, a man randomly struck another man on the head with a hammer on the PATCO subway platform, 1230 Locust St. The victim, who said the attack was unprovoked, walked to nearby Jefferson University Hospital and called 911. He described the perpetrator as black and in his late 20s, with a light complexion and his hair worn in a ponytail. He was wearing tan cargo shorts and a white tank top.
— Between 9:30-10:45 a.m. July 18, someone broke into two apartments in the 1100 block of Spruce Street and stole several computers, among other items. Sixth District Officer Sweeney lifted fingerprints.
— At 7:30 p.m. July 19, a man stole money from someone’s bag outside Camac and Spruce streets. The robber was described as black, age 52, about 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, sporting a mustache, a brown hat, a white T-shirt and tan shorts.
— Between 7-7:45 p.m. July 20, a patron’s wallet was stolen inside Maki Man Restaurant, 1326 Spruce St. Security video showed a man and a woman taking the wallet and leaving. Both were described as black and in their 20s. The man had a dark complexion and sported a beard, jeans and a plaid jacket. The woman had a medium complexion and long, straight hair. She wore a pink top and dark-colored pants.
— At 7:05 p.m. July 21, a female at 10th and Lombard streets was talking on her iPhone when two males on a bicycle rode past and snatched it. She described the culprits as black and about 16, one wearing a red shirt and shorts and the other, a white shirt and shorts.
— At 3:10 a.m. July 22, a man made off with another man’s wallet and phone in the 200 block of South Warnock Street. The culprit demanded the victim’s belongings, then fled north on Warnock. He was described as black, about 6-feet tall and 250 pounds, sporting a beard and a blue polo shirt with white pinstripes.
— Between 6 p.m. July 20 and 2 p.m. July 22, someone forced open the door of a residence in the 1200 block of Waverly Walk and stole camera equipment. Sixth District Officer Stevens lifted fingerprints.
— At 9:35 p.m. July 22, someone stole an iPhone from a table outside 1111 Locust St. The culprit, described as a shirtless 15-year-old black male, fled north on 11th Street.
NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS
— Shortly after a man was assaulted during a robbery attempt in the 1300 block of Pine Street, police arrested one of five suspects at Chestnut and Juniper streets. The victim was walking along Pine at 9 a.m. July 15 when five males punched him and attempted to take his iPhone. Police apprehended the one suspect after a foot pursuit. The victim positively identified the suspect, a 20-year-old homeless man, and he was charged with robbery and related offenses.
— Police arrested a man accused of using a stun gun in an attempted jewelry store robbery July 16. The man allegedly entered the store, at 85 S. Eighth St., at 9:15 that morning and shocked the owner with the weapon. He then used it to shock the owner’s brother as he entered from the rear of the store. The brothers managed to fight off the culprit and exit the shop, locking the armed man inside. Police arrested a 33-year-old South Philadelphia man inside the store and recovered the stun gun.
— Sixth District plainclothes officers arrested three men and recovered various illegal drugs July 17 in a subway concourse. The officers observed a narcotics transaction at 8:55 that night in the concourse at 101 S. Broad St. and apprehended a 43-year-old Northeast Philadelphia man, a 41-year-old West Philly man and a 20-year-old homeless man and charged them with various drug offenses. The officers recovered seven packets of crack cocaine, six narcotic prescription pills and cash.
— Police nabbed two robbery suspects July 19 shortly after an incident inside Varga, 941 Spruce St., at 12:15 a.m. The men allegedly made off with a female patron’s iPhone after one of the pair distracted her with conversation while the other snatched her phone from the bar. Sixth District Officer Williams stopped two males fitting the robbers’ description at 13th and Walnut streets and the victim positively identified them. A 23-year-old South Philadelphia man and a 33-year-old North Philly man were charged with theft and related offenses.