Community Chat

[PickyPicky3]

Police are searching for three armed teenagers driving a white U-Haul van. The trio pick out a pedestrian and pull him/her into the van. They get the victim's bank card and then go to a pre-selected ATM and force the victim to withdraw cash.

There have been three abduction/robberies in two days, each a little different.

The police are asking people to report any white U-Haul van they see and not to worry about too many responses.

[Tinkrbl44]

@PickyPicky3 

When this gets sorted out, I hope they tell us just HOW they selected their random victims. 

Nicely dressed?  Not very fit, so wouldn't put up much of a fight?  

[Mz iMac]

@PickyPicky3  Has been all over the local tv & radio news since it first happened. 

When you post these type of stories, it would be **helpful** if you would post the **article** and/or source. 

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For those who live outside of the Tri-State areas.........

The Special Victims Unit and Northeast Detectives are investigating a frightening abduction and robbery pattern. Multiple victims were robbed at gunpoint and physically attacked.

Several people were forced into a U-Haul cargo van and taken to withdraw money from ATM machines.

Police say there are three incidents that are connected with the latest attack happening Thursday morning.

"These individuals are driving around looking for victims to rob," Philadelphia Police Inspector Matthew Gillespie said.

Police are looking for a group of teenagers wanted for three armed robberies in Northeast Philadelphia, two in which they kidnapped their victims the other where police say they carjacked a man.

"In each instance, three to four individuals came out of a white U-Haul box van and robbed the complainants," Gillespie said.

Two incidents happened early Tuesday morning. The first was around 4 a.m. along the 1200 block of Academy Road.

"The female was walking down the street, they forced her into van, took some money from her and really most concerning was they discharged a firearm twice at her," Gillespie said.

The woman was punched in the face as they exited the van.

About 40 minutes later, police say the group moved up to the 6300 Block of Roosevelt Boulevard where they used their van to block in a man's car as he was parked at a TD Bank drive-thru ATM, pointing guns at the driver and demanding money before stealing his car.

"Brazen is the word that came to mind to me," Gillespie said.

The latest attack happened early Thursday morning along the 9200 block of Delaware Avenue where police say a victim was walking when the group pulled up and forced him into the same van.

"The person was abducted and taken to two different locations where money was tried to be withdrawn from their bank account," Gillespie said.

The thieves got away with $600 and the victim's phone. Police are calling this a crime of opportunity and warning the public to be on alert.

"We certainly don't want it to escalate and we want to get them off the street as soon as possible," Gillespie said.

Police believe all three robberies may be connected.  

Anyone who says anything related to these incidents or has video from the area is asked to call Philadelphia police.

SOURCE:  CBS News DOT com

[drizzellla]

I know when I lived and worked in Philadelphia, I was an easy target. I was 5'1" and 97 pounds.

I was "picked" by 5 teens walking on Market Street going to the train station, "picked" by 2 men walking to my car in a parking garage, "picked" by one man as I was sitting in a seat watching a play, "picked" by 2 teens as I was walking home from the train station, "picked" by 3 teens as I was sitting at a red light in my car.  

If you live in Philadelphia, this does not surprise me.

[NicksmomESQ]

OMG!! How awful. What's happening to the world these days? Everything is upside down & inside out. I hope they get caught sooner rather than later & are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!!

[chrystaltree]

Report ANY white U-Haul van???????   There are probably 1000 in Philadelphia, maybe more.  That's crazy.  I assume they are targeting old, frail people. People who can't or won't resist.  

[Oznell]

Oh, @drizzellla ,  so sorry you had those multiple, extremely frightening experiences.  Hoping that escalating crime will be increasingly dealt with by prosecutors who once again take seriously and prosecute crime.   

[Mz iMac]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

 I assume they are targeting old, frail people. People who can't or won't resist.  

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@chrystaltree  Old frail people are not walking around Philly by themselves around 4.a.m. 

[PickyPicky3]

@chrystaltree   Re: Reporting all white U-Haul vans

I think Philly officials are concerned about copycat crimes developing and they want to shut this down fast.

These are teenagers, they're successful and it's summertime.

[shoesnbags]

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@Mz iMac wrote:

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@chrystaltree wrote:

 I assume they are targeting old, frail people. People who can't or won't resist.  

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@chrystaltree  Old frail people are not walking around Philly by themselves around 4.a.m. 

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@Mz iMac 

Did the news reports happen to give ages for the victims?