REVISED STORY
by KYW's Al Novack and Hadas Kuznits
Philadelphia police say at least two men are responsible for a wave of robberies and attempted robberies at center city convenience stores during which the perpetrator escaped in the back of a taxicab.
Police captain Benjamin Naish says the man responsible for at least three robberies on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was not the same man who held up a Wawa store at 17th and Arch on Wednesday night:
"There is some similarity, but he fled in a different cab and the physical description of the suspect is different."
Police say the man in the first three robberies was heavy set and bald, and fled in a red Victory cab; the man involved in Wednesday night's robbery had hair and was thin. The cab company used on Wednesday was not disclosed.
Naish says the first robbery took place Tuesday night at the Sunoco A-Plus at 22nd and Walnut Streets, then a repeat was attempted early Wednesday morning:
"About seven hours later at that same store, a male that we believe is the same male announced that this is a robbery, threatened to shoot the clerk and tried to gain access to the cashier's booth. However, the plexiglas was locked for that location and despite his efforts, he left without getting anything and he was observed getting into a red Victory cab."
Captain Naish says a few minutes later, there was a robbery at the Wawa at 20th and Chestnut Streets:
"What we believe is the same male approached the clerk, announced a hold-up, and he was given some moeny and some cigarettes. That individual also fled inside of a red Victory cab."
No one has been hurt in any of the robberies.
Detectives say in each case the cab driver may have unwittingly helped the bandit. Police speculate that the robbers may have asked cabbies to stop at a store for cigarettes, robbed the store, then hopped back into the cab to continue the trip.
If any cabbie or witnesses can help police, they should call Central Detectives at 215-686-3093 or dial 911.
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