VIDEO: Police seek adult bookstore bandit
Police are looking for a man accused of targeting adult bookstores during a string of robberies in Washington Square.
Police are looking for a man accused of targeting adult bookstores during a string of robberies in Washington Square.
The suspect allegedly first hit Spruce Street Video, located at 252 S. 12th St., around 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Police said he engaged the clerk in a short conversation, asking about the pricing of items.
The suspect left the store and returned about 10 minutes later with his face partially covered and armed with a handgun, according to investigators. When the clerk ran to the back of the store, the suspect allegedly grabbed the cash register, slammed it on the floor and forced it open. Police said he made away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police said the suspect struck again around 4:30 p.m. March 10 at Scorpio Adult Boutique and Video, located at 205 S. Juniper St. He allegedly demanded money at gunpoint and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. The crime was caught on surveillance video and released to the public Wednesday.
The suspect targeted the same store March 21, according to investigators. Police said he entered shortly before 8:30 p.m. with his face partially covered. He pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money from the register, police said. He also allegedly made away with the clerk's laptop.
Police said the suspect on Tuesday robbed Danny's adult store, located at 133 S. 13th St., in a crime that was also caught on camera.
The man allegedly entered the store shortly before 1 p.m., armed with a handgun and with his face partially covered, and demanded money. Police said the clerk opened the register drawer and handed over an unknown amount of cash in a brown paper bag.
The suspect was last seen running south on 13th Street, according to investigators. He is described as a 6-foot tall black male between the ages of 30 and 35 and weighing 180 to 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light tan or black winter jacket with a hooded sweatshirt underneath, dark-colored jeans and dark boots.
Anyone with information on the suspect or crime is asked to contact the Central Detectives Division at 215-686-3047, or to submit an anonymous tip by dialing 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847).