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 all took place on Mondays.

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

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

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

On the morning of Monday, Aug. 16, the robber 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 man distracted the employee at the front desk of the apartment building in the 1500 block of Locust Street.

The previous Monday, Aug. 9, a 46-year-old woman was at an ATM machine at 1636 Walnut St. 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., a woman, 29, was pushing an infant in a stroller in the 1500 block of Chestnut Street 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 or -3094, or to dial 911.