Women targeted in Center City robberies, theft

Detectives have linked at least one suspect to two robberies, an attempted robbery, and a theft involving female victims in Center City that happened to occur on Mondays.

"One male seems to be the common denominator," said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.

In three instances, video surveillance shows the same man, and the victim in the fourth case provides a description matching the same man, Vanore said.

The suspect is described as a bald black man about 40, wearing a baseball cap and metal-framed glasses, and with a longish beard.

On the morning of Monday, Aug. 16, the suspect followed a 93-year-old woman into an elevator and took $6 from her during an assault that left her with a broken wrist. Another black man distracted the man at the front desk of the apartment building in the 1500 block of Locust Street.

The previous Monday, a 46-year-old woman was at an ATM machine at 1636 Walnut Street about 11:35 a.m. when one man distracted her and another took her wallet from her purse.

On Monday, July 26, about 11 a.m., an 86-year-old woman in the 100 block of South Broad Street was blocked from exiting an elevator by a man while another man took her wallet from her purse.

On Monday, July 19, about 4:15 p.m. in the 1500 block of Chestnut Street, a woman, 29, was pushing an infant in a stroller when she was accosted by two men. The robbery attempt failed.

Anyone with information about the perpetrators is urged to call Central Detectives at 215-686-3093, 3094, or by dialing 911.