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Police find huge cache of stolen goods. Anything yours?

Posted on 14 July 2011 by Mike Lyons

PoliceHave you had anything stolen in the last year or so? Maybe a camera? Or an I-pod? There is a chance it might be sitting at the police department’s 18th District headquarters right now.

Southwest Detectives discovered a massive cache of what they say are fenced items in a clothing store near 52nd and Chestnut. The items recovered include hundreds of cameras, cell phones, I-pods, flat screen TVs, gaming systems, jewelry and GPS devices. Police are asking that victims of robberies, burglaries and break-ins come to the 18th District headquarters at 55th and Pine Streets after 4 p.m. today to claim an item.

The tricky part of this, of course, is identifying and proving what is yours. Police say they will work with people, but that a police report filed when the item was taken would be extremely helpful.

Police believe most of the items were stolen from West, Southwest and South Philadelphia and Upper Darby.

 

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3-year-old’s death ruled a homicide

Posted on 14 July 2011 by Mike Lyons

crime
Jaquinn Brewton. (Photo from ABC 6)

Three-year-old Jaquinn Brewton, the boy who was hospitalized after his caregiver said he fell down a flight of stairs late last month, died Tuesday within minutes of being taken off life support. After an autopsy last night revealed that his injuries were due to “blunt force trauma,” his death was ruled a homicide.

Police say no charges have been filed yet.

Brewton’s caregiver, who has been described as a “family friend,” told police that she found him unconscious on the steps of an apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street on June 29. She told police he had fallen down the stairs.

Brewton’s mother, who was staying in a homeless shelter at the time, has alleged that Brewton was abused. She has said that doctors told her that the boy had been burned on various parts of his body.

 

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Woman stabbed and robbed near 45th and Pine

Posted on 13 July 2011 by Mike Lyons

Police are still searching for a male in his early 20s who stabbed and robbed a woman near 45th and Pine Streets on Monday night.

The victim, who police described as an 18-year-old Asian woman, was stabbed in the back three times and robbed of her cell phone. Police say the suspect was black male in his early 20s wearing a white t-shirt.

The robbery took place at about 11:30 p.m. The victim was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and was in stable condition.

 

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Update on computer/cell phone robbery

Posted on 27 June 2011 by Mike Lyons

The computer stolen from a man who was attacked by a group of 10-12 youths last week has been returned.

A reader and friend of the victim writes:

An update: University of the Sciences (USP) police noticed one of the kids with a laptop near USP campus. He got scared, dumped the laptop in the bushes and ran. Police ID’ed him and were able to find him and the victim got his laptop back (but not his phone). Thanks to Lt. Brian McBride of the 18th District who worked on recovering the laptop and getting it back to the rightful owner. Unfortunately, as noted above, these are kids bored for the summer, acting out in negative ways. With nothing else to do, this is what happens. It’s a story that’s been playing out all through history.

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Plainclothes police catch two youths after robbery attempts

Posted on 24 June 2011 by Mike Lyons

Plainclothes police arrested two youths who attempted to rob two pedestrians at gunpoint in quick succession near 47th and Warrington and 48th and Springfield late Wednesday night.

A 59-year-old man was walking his dog at about 11 p.m. on the 4700 block of Warrington when a young man, who police later identified as a 17-year-old, jumped out of the bushes and tried to rob him, police said. The man turned to run but was met by another 17-year-old who swung at him. The older man blocked the punch, hit the young man in the face and fled. Both youths chased the man, who managed to attract the attention of several more pedestrians who came to help him. The two youths fled.

About 10 minutes later a 31-year-old male was walking near 48th and Springfield when he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned around to see a young man pointing a gun at him. The male, who police say was also involved in the first robbery, demanded that he empty his pockets. When the man said he had nothing in his pockets the young man struck him in the face with the gun and rifled through his pockets before fleeing on foot. The victim suffered a broken nose.

Plainclothes police who had been alerted to the first robbery observed the second and caught one suspect after a brief pursuit. The second suspect fled down Springfield Avenue and was caught near an alley where police also recovered a BB gun pistol.

Both defendants, whose names were not released because they are juveniles, were charged with the robberies and police say they are investigating their possible involvement in other robberies in the area involving youths in recent weeks.
 

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As many as a dozen youths attack man, steal phone and computer

Posted on 22 June 2011 by Mike Lyons

A 36-year-old man was mugged by 10-12 young males on the 4600 block of Chester Avenue on Monday night, police said.

Police say the youths punched the man, who was a house guest at a nearby residence, and stole his cell phone and laptop at about 11 p.m. He refused medical attention. The youths were not armed and no arrests have so far been made.

The West Philly resident with whom the man is staying wrote us that:

“It seems like there has been an uptick in muggings in the “triangle” between Baltimore and Woodland and 40th and the Kingsessing rec center which is usually pretty quiet compared to the main East-West streets (Walnut, Spruce).”

 

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