2 more yesterday. SAME EXACT description. This guy is waiting in the dark areas of streets for victims. I was out looking for him myself until about 900pm last night and of course the robbery occurs at 915pm at 42 and Pine. There is no doubt in my mind that we will catch him.....paperwork is pending that may lead to an identification soon. In the mean time I hope he is caught before that and no one else has to go through this. The pattern is every other day but with 2 robberies yesterday he may be getting more confident. Be careful if you are going out tonight as I am sure many of you are.

A vehicle is strongly suspected in this as well. If you see a male slowing down or following you call 911 immediately. If you see someone who fits the description I have provided and is acting suspicious, dial 911 and mention the screwdriver robberies. It will illicit a speedy response as most of the 18th district and UPenn police officers are looking for him.

Hello.

Three days ago (Mon, Nov 21) we had an attempted burglary in S Melville Str near Lombard. Two men tried to force open our apartment door. They left when they heard us open the building door, so they didn't actually steal anything. But they heavily damaged our door.

We called the police immediately, but they didn't even show up, although we told them that we just interrupted them and they might be in the area.

The only positive thing: we now have better locks and a safer door.

Anybody else had similar experience recently?

Do you mean Larchwood?

Ups sorry, Locust.

Just checking in and wondering what's been going on with the screwdriver robberies. I showed this to my daughter and she said that campus (Drexel) has been plastered with information concerning these incidents.

Updates are appreciated. (Concerned mom of a pretty girl on campus!)

__________________


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xCiKCxfYqE

"If we can't learn from our mistakes, what's the point of making them!" ...my friend Richard.

"You are protected by the enormity of your stupidity." Mother to son Victor, in "Notorious"

Thanks.

7 total. Last one about 6-7 days ago in the 3900 block of Pine St.

Myself as well as UPenn police are still working hard on this.....any help is always appreciated. The description I provided before is still what we are looking for. That over-sized black 3/4 length jacket and white sneakers are pretty distinct. If you think you see him, call 911.

CRIME ALERT:
FROM PENN'S DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE BELOW INCIDENTS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA POLICE DEPARTMENT BY CALLING 511 FROM A CAMPUS PHONE, 215-573-3333 FROM OFF-CAMPUS OR CELL PHONES, OR FROM ANY BLUE LIGHT EMERGENCY PHONE. PLEASE REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE EMERGENCY NUMBER LISTED ABOVE. WHEN TRAVELING IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE PENN PATROL ZONE, PLEASE CALL 911.

PLEASE PROGRAM THE PENN POLICE EMERGENCY NUMBER INTO YOUR CELL PHONE SPEED
DIAL: 215/573.3333


*** ROBBERY PATTERN ***

Since November 9, 2006, a robbery pattern has emerged mostly on the
western end of the Penn patrol boundaries. The following eight incidents
may have been committed by the same individual. Some of the common
elements of these robberies are:

- All the victims are female and college-age.
- The weapon being used by the suspect is a screwdriver.
- The descriptions of the suspect are all very similar:
Black male, late 20s to early 30s, medium-to-dark complexion with short
hair, between 5'4" and 5'8" approximately 140-150 lbs., wearing a
dark/black thigh-length puffy-type jacket or coat, light-colored shirt and
white sneakers.
- The suspect may also have a vehicle parked in the area, which is dark in
color, four-door, possibly an Oldsmobile or Buick.

INCIDENT DATES, TIMES & LOCATIONS:
1) 11/9, 10:50pm, 4200 block Pine Street
2) 11/17, 8:50pm, 4000 block Pine Street
3) 11/17, 9:18pm, 3400 block Baring Street (outside Penn patrol zone)
4) 11/18, 2:30am, 4700 block Hazel Avenue (outside Penn patrol zone)
5) 11/19, 8:10pm, 46th & Larchwood (outside Penn patrol zone)
6) 11/20, 12:53am, 4000 block Pine Street
7) 11/21, 6:40am, 3900 block Pine Street
8) 11/21, 10:12pm, 3700 block Sansom Street

A tactical task force, comprising both University of Pennsylvania Police
Department and Philadelphia Police Department personnel, and supported by
Drexel, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Allied Barton Security
and University City District Safety Ambassadors, has been developed to
address this pattern. Both covert and overt police patrols are being
used. Additionally, the Division of Public Safety is utilizing virtual
video patrols in the targeted area.


*** ROBBERY - SEXUAL ASSAULT PATTERN ***

THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT HAS ASKED THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS, TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

The Special Victims Unit is investigating a possible pattern of robberies
and sexual assaults of women for the following five incidents, four of
which have occurred in the center city area. The description and method of
operation of the suspect is similar across each case:
- Black male, early to mid-30s to 40 years-old, deep-set eyes,
thin-to-average-build, light-to-medium complexion, between 5'8" - 5'10",
wearing a dark-colored jacket or coat and skull cap.
- In four of the incidents, suspect was armed with handgun; in one
incident, suspect indicated that he had a handgun but was not seen by the complainant.
- In each incident, the suspect approached the complainant, who was
walking in each location alone, and demanded money.
- After the complainant gave the suspect money, the suspect reached into the complainants' pockets or underneath the complainant's dress and
indecently assaulted each woman, and then fled on foot.


INCIDENT DATES, TIMES & LOCATIONS:
1) 11/18, 6:50am, 3200 block South Street
2) 11/22, 7:15pm, 1700 block Folsom Street
3) 11/23, 4:45am, 2400 block Walnut Street
4) 11/23, 6:15am, 2500 block Spruce Street
5) 11/26, 2:50am, 1800 block Pine Street


*** FROM PENN'S DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY ***
Robbery: 11/28, 7:15pm, Penn Tower Parking Garage:
As of 11/29 at 10:30am, the University of Pennsylvania Police and the
Philadelphia Police Department are investigating a strong-arm robbery
incident that occurred at the above location of a Penn female employee, as being possibly related to any reported patterns of robberies.


SAFETY REMINDER
Please remember to utilize the safety and security services offered by
Penn's Division of Public Safety and the University City District, which
include:
Walking Escorts: 215/898.WALK
(Walking Escort boundaries extend from 30th Street - 50th Street,
Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue)
Penn Transit: 215/898.RIDE
http://www.upenn.edu/transportation
6pm-3am: *On-call for emergencies, 3am-7am
(Penn Transit boundaries are: 50th Street - 20th Street
and Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue)
UPPD Detective Unit: 215/898.4485
As a general safety precaution, please do not walk alone in isolated
areas. When walking, do not listen to music or talk on the cell phone,
both activities distract people from exercising caution and awareness in
their environment.

Vehicle suspect in University City screwdriver robberies:

Late 80's or early 90's 4 door foreign-made vehicle (possibly a Subaru or Honda), grey in color. This vehicle has a sunroof and is missing a hubcap on the front passenger side tire. There is a vanity plate on the front of the vehicle and a piece of paper taped to the rear driver side window.

Anyone sees this vehicle, please call Southwest Detectives at 215-686-3183.

I saw a grey honda with a missing right front hubcap and tinted windows on 47th between Larchwood and Osage headed north. I think it was Sunday between 6-8pm (before this description was posted). The car caught my eye as suspicious, and the missing front hubcap stood out because the rear one was huge and shiny. I think maybe I noticed it because it was moving slowly, as if it was cruising, and traffic on 47th usually moves quickly. I am male and had my dog with me. I even checked out the license plate number, but didn't write it down :-(