Unfortunately, there was some criminal activity reported in the area last night, including two gunpoint robberies near 51st and Osage and shots fired on 46th street between Walnut and Locust.

The robberies took place around 10 p.m. within a few minutes of each other – the first one was on the 400 block of S. 51st street and the second one on the 500 block of S. 51st Street, according to Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives. In the second robbery the victim was pistol-whipped.

A reader reported hearing five or six gunshots last night, around 1:20 a.m. near the Watusi Lounge located at the corner of 46th and Walnut, followed by police presence. Police confirmed the incident and said that they apprehended a man with a gun after they were called to the scene. Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident. Police are still investigating the case and we’ll post updates as we get them.

Burglary reports in the past 30 days (3/24/13-4/23/13).

The latest University City Crime Update, a monthly email distributed by the University City District, shows a significant increase in residential burglaries in the area in April. There were over 20 burglaries in the past 30 days in the area, most of them reported in Spruce Hill, Walnut Hill, and Kingsessing, according to Crime Reports.

The UCD calls for extra caution and asks residents to consider various anti-burglary measures, including locking all exterior doors at all times, investing in more secure locks, using light switch timers to simulate occupancy, and asking a trusted neighbor to watch your property when you are away.

Please also apply caution when walking outside and using your cell phone, since there have been a series of phone robberies in the area. Here are some most recent reports of muggings:

Robbery reports in the past 30 days (3/24/13-4/23/13). Images from CrimeReports.com

• On Monday, April 15, a 29-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint by two men on the 4400 block of Osage Avenue, at approximately 9 p.m., according to police. The man’s phone was taken in the robbery.

• On Tuesday, April 16, a 23-year-old woman was robbed on the 4300 block of Baltimore Avenue. This incident happened in the morning, shortly before 9 a.m. The robbers took her phone, police said. The woman ran after the guys and one said to the other “Shoot her,” but no gun was seen. Police were called and were able to catch one of the robbers, a 21-year-old man, at 46th and Baltimore. The second robber was not apprehended.

• On Thursday, April 18, approximately at 11 a.m., a 20-year-old female was robbed by two men after being put in a choke hold, police said. The incident happened on the 4300 block of Pine Street. University City bike cops caught both robbers, an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old.

A late-night robbery spree this week led to two arrests, according to police. Three robberies – at 46th and Chester, 45th and Larchwood, and 42nd and Osage – happened within 15-20 minutes from one another, beginning around 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 and going into early Wednesday. The Osage and Larchwood Avenue robberies were at a gunpoint, said Joseph Murray of the Southwest Detectives (@PPDJoeMurray).

That same night, the 18th district police arrested two suspects they believe were involved in these incidents. One of the arrested men is suspected in the Chester and Osage Avenue robberies.

A 21-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot in the face during an attempted robbery last night near 51st Street and Willows Avenue. He is expected to survive.

The victim told police that another man came up to him at about 9:45 p.m. and tried to rob him, then took out a handgun and shot him once in the mouth. The suspect then ran down 51st Street toward Pentridge.

Police said that they have encountered the victim before. “A neighborhood beef has not been ruled out,” said Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives.

Hakim Benson (photo from Philly Police Blog).

Update: Just a few days after police released a photo of Hakim Benson, who is suspected in multiple West and Southwest Philly robberies, including the Sept. 28 robbery of CVS Pharmacy at 4849 Market St., he was captured. Benson was arrested and charged with 12 gunpoint robberies on October 6.

Oct 4, 10:06 am: Police have released a photo of robbery suspect Hakim Benson, wanted for multiple gunpoint robberies in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

One of the recent crimes Benson is suspected in is a robbery of the CVS Pharmacy located at 4849 Market Street on September 28, when a male pointed a silver revolver at the employee and told him to put all the money in his bag. He took $75 and two cartons of cigarettes and fled. For more information on other robberies Benson is suspected in, visit Philly Police Blog.

Hakim Benson is 5’5″ tall and weighs 125lbs. He has numerous tattoos on his face. If you see him, please call 911.

A neighbor and West Philly Local reader, Brendan, emailed us that his apartment on the 4400 block of Baltimore Ave was broken into and robbed last week, on Thursday, Sept.  27. Brendan says that the burglar(s) got away with his wife’s new Schwinn Sporterra (2012) bike. It’s a size 52 black bike with white writing on it. They also got off with an old Playstation 2.

Brendan says that he and his wife are not very well off people by any stretch and that their apartment is mostly full of things of sentimental value. “The bike is what really broke my heart…because I just bought it for my wife this past summer after saving up and sacrificing a lot to give my wife a new bike… We’ve lived in this apartment for 7 years and have never felt insecure. We love this neighborhood and can not stand the idea that we were so brazenly violated like this in a community that we love so much,” Brendan writes.

Police suspect that juveniles might have been involved in this robbery based on what they stole and some other details.

This incident taught Brendan a couple of things about how to protect yourself in case your apartment gets burglarized – to get renter’s insurance and to write down your bike’s serial number.