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Three West Philadelphia men charged in iPad scheme

Police have arrested three West Philadelphia men who used a bogus Craigslist advertisement for a $300 iPad to lure victims into gunpoint robberies.

Police have arrested three West Philadelphia men who used a bogus Craigslist advertisement for a $300 iPad to lure victims into gunpoint robberies.

Terrance Brown, 20, of the 600 block of Wynnewood Road, came up with the scheme, which duped two victims Sunday in Southwest Philadelphia, police said.

About 10:20 p.m., Brown's cohorts, Malcolm Craig, 18, and Edward Brown, 19, who is no relation to Terrance Brown, met a 45-year-old Sharon Hill man at the Penrose Plaza Shopping Center who wanted to buy the iPad, said Police Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives.

Except, Walker said, there was no iPad - just Craig and Brown with a handgun. Craig waved the gun, and the pair made off with the victim's $300, Walker said.

Just 25 minutes later, the alleged thieves met a 25-year-old King of Prussia man on the 6700 block of Yocum Street, where they robbed him of his 2009 silver Toyota Corolla and $275, police said. Apparently, he was looking to bargain the iPad's asking price down.

Later this week, police spotted the Corolla near 62d and Walnut Streets. After a brief foot chase, police nabbed Edward Brown and Craig, Walker said. Terrance Brown was arrested at his home a few hours later.

Each faces robbery and aggravated-assault charges and related offenses, Walker said. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Sept. 14.