2 women sought in stabbing of Center City store worker

Police are looking for two young women who allegedly stabbed an employee at a Center City store after shoplifting from the business.

Philadelphia police on Tuesday released photos of the two suspects in the incident Friday at the Five Below store at 1529 Chestnut St.

After the women allegedly shoplifted from the store at about 6 p.m., a female employee followed them outside to 16th and Chestnut Streets and tried to retrieve the unspecified stolen items, police said.

Both suspects then pulled out steak knives. One woman stabbed the worker in her neck, while the other stabbed her in the back, police said.

The suspects were last seen running north on 16th Street and then east on Ranstead Street.

The victim was treated at Jefferson University Hospital.

Police described the suspects, whose photos were found on social media, as black, about 18 to 20 years old, and of medium build. One was about 5 feet 2 inches tall and wearing glasses. The other was about 5 feet 6 inches tall with long black hair.

Anyone with information should call police at 215-686-8477 (TIPS) or send a text message to 773847 (PPDTIP), or contact the Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093.