Two takes on the robbery at 43rd & Spruce (first from the DN, next from the
Inquirer). Notice the difference in coverage.
1. Seemingly unmentioned, the victim was unhurt.
2. The already caught one of the perps and recovered the stuff bought
with the guy's debit & credit cards, and he'll probably blab so they'll get
the other ones, too. They apparently aren't too bright.
3. Catch the photo from the DN. What does this say about the 4300 block
of Spruce Street?
Remember, you read it first here, on the popu-list
,
Al Krigman
(http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080311_Student__30__bound___held_12_hours_in_his_U__City_apartment.html?imageId=7065656)
(http://www.reprintbuyer.com/mags/philly/reprints.html)
Posted on Tue, Mar. 11, 2008
Student, 30, bound & held 12 hours in his U. City apartment
By CHRISTINE OLLEY & DAFNEY TALES
Philadelphia Daily News
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) 215-854-5184
A 30-year-old University of Pennsylvania dental student was held captive for
12 long hours beginning late Sunday night by three thieves who ransacked his
apartment, stole his credit cards and kicked back to watch TV.
The crooks finally left the man's University City apartment, on Spruce Street
near 43rd, about 11:30 a.m. yesterday and went wild, draining the man's ATM
account and charging his credit card at seemingly every chance.
But the shopping spree came to an abrupt halt for one of the thieves last
night, who was arrested coming out of a Rite Aid at 23rd and Walnut streets,
said Lt. John Walker, of Southwest Detectives.
The suspect, whose name was withheld, was captured by police after
investigators noticed that he had just used the victim's credit card inside the
Rite
Aid, Walker said.
The robber's accomplices remained on the loose last night.
Walker said the robbers - one of whom was armed - grabbed their victim as he
was walking out of his apartment at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday and forced him
back inside.
The student stood by helplessly as the thieves tore through his apartment and
was stunned to see them stop to watch reruns of "American Gladiator" and old
movies on his TV, Walker said.
For a while, one of the crooks left the apartment to make sure the ATM
personal identification numbers the victim had given them was correct.
The thieves duct-taped the man's eyes and hands in a dark stairwell right
before they left, Walker said.
>From there, the trio zig-zagged across the city - from The Gallery at 8th and
Market, to 69th and Market, then on to Upper Darby and Havertown, then back
to 69th and Market - buying sneakers, clothes and gift cards while
continually draining the student's ATM accounts, Walker said.
At one point, the FBI got involved and monitored the credit card and ATM
transactions.
"We were always one step behind [the thieves] throughout the entire day,"
Walker said.
"But we're happy that we've taken one dangerous person off the streets."
Earlier in the day, neighbors in the Castle Hill apartments nervously looked
on as investigators walked through the crime scene.
"There's no security at all," said Chang, a neighbor who asked that his last
name not be used. Castle Hill management couldn't be reached for comment. *
---------------------
Arrest ends shopping spree with stolen debit card
By Jennifer Lin
Inquirer Staff Writer
A 24-hour shopping spree with a stolen debit card by a pair of robbers ended
yesterday after police caught up with a suspect leaving a Center City Rite
Aid with merchandise.Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives said the suspect,
a man in his mid-20s whose name was being withheld because he hadn't been
charged, was taken into custody at 9 p.m. yesterday, while his accomplice
remained at large.
Walker said the robbery happened about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, when the suspect
in custody confronted a 30-year-old West Philadelphia man who was coming down
the stairwell of his apartment house in the 4300 block of Spruce Street. The
victim was forced back at gunpoint into his apartment, where the robber was
joined by a second man.
The pair forced the man to hand over his debit card and information. They
withdrew money from automated teller machines in Center City and then returned
to the man's apartment.
At 10 a.m. yesterday, the robbers put duct tape over the victim's eyes and
mouth and left him kneeling in a stairwell. After an hour, the victim was able
to free himself and call 911.
Meanwhile, the two robbers had spent $3,000 at nine locations in Center
City, Havertown and Upper Darby - making stops at Wawa, Game Stop, Radio Shack
and Foot Action, Walker said.
Walker said the FBI aided Philadelphia police in working with financial
institutions to analyze surveillance video.
A Philadelphia detective saw one of the alleged robbers leaving a Rite Aid
at 23d and Walnut Streets and took him into custody.
All the items that had been purchased throughout the day were recovered, he
added.
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