Cops hunt serial robbers in West Philly

Police are hot on the trail of three punks said to be waging a crime spree in West Philly and its surrounding neighborhoods, taking advantage of people walking in the bitter cold.

The trio's most recent attack was Monday, when they lured a man into a robbery after feigning interest in the paintball gun he was selling on Craigslist, said Lt. John Walker, of Southwest Detectives.

When the seller arrived with the paintball gun on Spring Garden Street near 41st, the trio produced an actual gun, and forced him to hand over his wares, including a laptop and cellphone, Walker said.

The victim wasn't hurt in the robbery, but the descriptions he gave investigators matched those of three men wanted for three other incidents in the area, Walker said.

They first struck Feb. 8, when they held up a pizza-delivery man at gunpoint, on Baring Street near 38th in Mantua, grabbing an undisclosed amount of cash.

Four days later, they followed a 27-year-old woman into the entrance to her apartment building on Pine Street near 44th in West Philly, using the gun to steal her phone and purse, Walker said.

And a day before the Craigslist caper, three unknown men followed a 20-year-old woman into a stairway leading to her apartment on Hamilton Street near 31st in Powelton.

Once inside, one of the men pulled out a handgun and grabbed her cellphone, a backpack and about $200 in cash, Walker said.

Detectives believe the suspects are between 18 and 20-years-old, and are all around 6 feet tall.

It's clear from their M.O. that the men are using the recent cold snap to their advantage, tailing people who think they're alone on the street, Walker said.

Tipsters can call 215-686-8477.