West Philly residents who live in the 18th Police District boundaries are again invited to attend community meetings with local police officers. Monthly meetings at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) have recently resumed after a nearly two-year long COVID-related hiatus.

Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting will take place this Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. Lt. Kevin Livewell of the University City Division of the 18th Police District and representatives of University City District (UCD) will participate in the meeting. Continue Reading

There has been an increase in carjacking incidents in many city neighborhoods, according to reports, a worrying trend that is likely part the overall increase in violence in the city during the pandemic.

A very brazen armed carjacking attempt took place on Wednesday, April 21 near 46th and Pine Streets, which led to an arrest of three suspects. The incident took place at 3:30 p.m. on Pine Street in front of the Garden Court condominium, according to reports. The male victim, a Garden Court resident, had just placed an item in his parked car when he was approached by four masked young males, each armed with a gun, according to police.

The suspects took the car keys from the victim and his wallet, got in the vehicle and sped off. The victim was able to hide his phone and called 911 immediately after the incident. Police responded within a few minutes and spotted the stolen vehicle nearby. After a pursuit the vehicle crashed into a fence on a dead end street and three out of the four suspects were apprehended when they tried to flee the crash scene. Continue Reading

A family was robbed and carjacked at gunpoint on the 4600 block of Larchwood Avenue on Wednesday at about 1 p.m., according to the University City District.

Two young adult males approached a family that was exiting their vehicle on the block and asked for money. The family refused to give them any money, and one of the males produced a gun and demanded valuables. The two young men also stole the family’s vehicle.

Two males with the same description attempted to carjack another vehicle a block away about 10 minutes earlier, according to UCD. The driver in that incident refused to exit his car, and the two men fled.  Continue Reading

A stolen car with two armed teenagers inside crashed into several parked cars near 48th and Springfield overnight, according to reports. Police say the teens stole the car in South Philadelphia shortly after midnight and drove around in it for a while before they slammed into cars parked along the 4800 block of Springfield Avenue. Police spotted the car earlier in Southwest Philly but decided not to pursue it because they deemed it too dangerous.

“We believe these kids probably don’t have a license to drive,” Lt. John Walker of the Southwest Detectives Division told NBC News.

After running into the parked cars, the teens fled on foot. One of them reportedly has a head injury. No one else was hurt, according to police. Police found two guns in the stolen vehicle.

A Port Richmond man is in custody after he carjacked a 73-year-old man’s vehicle near 52nd and Chestnut yesterday afternoon and was chased by witnesses who alerted police.

Police say 33-year-old Hadbin Austin of the 3100 block of Janney Street wielded a 10-inch knife and wrenched the man from his 2011 Kia at about 3 p.m. Police said the victim was eating food he purchased at the nearby McDonald’s.

Austin smashed into another car, flattening one tire on the Kia. Several witnesses observed the incident and called 911, police said. As many as three people pursued Austin until he abandoned the vehicle near 40th and Market. The pursuers alerted police to the car’s location and officers apprehended Austin after a brief struggle.

Austin has been charged with aggravated assault, robbery and related offenses. Police said the victim was not injured in the incident.

The Daily News reports that three people, two employees of Verizon and one SEPTA worker, pursued Austin and helped lead to his arrest.