Over a week after a huge sinkhole on a city street nearly swallowed a pickup truck, another sinkhole on the same street caused a stream of water to shoot out of the ground.
A water main break caused a sinkhole to emerge on Monday along the 900 block of Randolph Street in Northern Liberties. According to one resident, the sinkhole caused a shooting water stream that "reached three stories high for an hour and a half."
Kate Somerville recorded Monday's sinkhole. Water from the latest main break flooded her basement as well as her neighbors'. Residents say it took the Philadelphia Water Department several hours to respond.
"They said they'd come," Somerville said. "They said that about three hours ago."
Residents claim PWD officials finally came to fix the break after receiving a call from Councilman Darrell Clarke.
Back on December 5, a sinkhole on that same street nearly swallowed a pickup truck. Larisa Dersko, the owner of the gray Dodge pickup, told NBC10 she had to pay $2600 for the gaping hole left behind.
The water company found the infrastructure of the street completely washed away with a 6-inch water main leak. They claimed Dersko was responsible because they believed the hole was caused by a leak in her service line.
Dersko, who was without water for a week prior to the sinkhole, told NBC10's LuAnn Cahn that she called on Thanksgiving, days before the hole opened up, to report that something wasn't right.
Neighbors told NBC10 that six to seven sinkholes have emerged on their street so far this year. They say they're frustrated new buildings are going up on the street while they're stuck with old service lines that continue to break. They're also frustrated by the fact that the Water Department still insists that the cost of damages and repairs is on the homeowners.
Before Monday's incident, residents say the PWD never bothered to pave over the street after fixing the sinkhole.
"They doubled up our real estate tax," Somerville said. "I think for that they should do some infrastructure and do the whole block. Because it's real patchwork, ductape jobs they're doing."
Clarke's office told NBC10 they asked the Water Department to find out if there is a larger problem on the street.
"We understand that this is a frustrating experience for the residents that live here," a PWD spokesperson said in a written statement. "We will be in contact with them as soon as our investigation of the failure of some property water services and laterals is complete."
Frustrated neighbors say they may have to eventually take legal action against the city.
"If they have to get together collectively to protect their interests and avoid what they see as an unfair situation, I'm sure that they'll do that," said Matt Ruben of the Northern Liberies Association. "There has gotta be something wrong here!"
Also on NBC10.com:
Sinkhole Nearly Swallows Pickup Truck
Dangerous Manhole Still Not Fixed After 3 Years
Two of three suspects are in custody after police say they sexually assaulted a woman during a home invasion in Kensington.
Police say the three men entered a home Monday night on Wister Street near Hancock. Two of the suspects were armed with a gun, according to investigators.
Once inside, the men allegedly robbed seven people of their wallets and cell phones. Police also say one of the suspects sexually assaulted a woman inside.
Police say the three men then ran out of the back of the home.
A neighbor of the victims called police. Investigators say responding officers were able to find and arrest two of the suspects a few blocks away. One suspect remains on the loose however.
Police have not yet revealed information on any of the suspects. Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.
Also on NBC10.com:
As passengers at five PATCO stations in our area continue to deal with repairs that have put the escalators out of commission, one woman says that the constant delays and breakdowns have forced her to quit her job.
The escalators at the Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Ashland, 8th and Market and 13th and Locust stations have been down for months.
PATCO officials have tried to fix the broken escalators. They recently received word however from Fujitec, the company that made the escalators, that they were beyond repair and had to be completely replaced, a process which could take months.
“They came in, they looked at the escalators and when they opened them up they said they couldn’t agree to replace them unless they were either completely replaced or significantly overhauled,” said Tim Ireland of PATCO.
Rosemarie Altone tells NBC10 she was at one of the PATCO stations in Center City on her way to work. Due to the broken escalator, she had to use an elevator, which she claimed stopped dead at the Concorde Level.
"The elevator just literally stopped dead at the Concorde Level," she said. "It took almost 30 minutes and three PATCO employees to pry the door open."
Altone says after dealing with broken escalators and train delays for months, which caused her to get home two hours late at least twice a week, she's had enough.
"My employer almost sent me home from work because I was so upset from being stuck in an elevator," she said. "Enough is enough. Retirement is starting to look better and better."
While the elevator has since been repaired, the escalators continue to be an issue for PATCO.
Ireland says it will cost about $2 million to replace each escalator. He assures passengers however that rates and fees won’t go up because of it.
“Our capital budget was approved today,” Ireland said. “In no time in the foreseeable future do we intend to raise PATCO fares or tolls. This will have no impact on tolls or PATCO fares.”
PATCO officials don’t have a set date yet for when the escalators will be completely replaced. They do say it will happen within a year however.
Police arrested a man in connection to an assault and robbery in the Jeweler’s Row section of the city last November. 
Keith Richardson, 19, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted murder, carjacking, robbery and other related offenses.
On November 17, at 2:45 a.m., police say a 23-year-old man and two of his friends were walking along the 700 block of Sansom Street when Richardson and three other suspects began to follow them.
As the victim tried to enter the door of a building, police say one of the suspects punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. The suspects then allegedly stole his iPhone and then fled west on Sansom Street. They then entered a silver or gray-colored late model Pontiac Grand Prix.
Police say an anonymous tip led them to Richardson. While he is now in custody, police say the other three suspects are still on the loose. If you have any information on their whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police at 215.686.3388/3389.
Also on NBC10.com:
A bus driver is behind bars after police say he struck another vehicle while driving under the influence.
Dwayne Holden, 52, was driving a school bus on the 600 block of University Avenue on Monday, around 5:20 p.m. Police say Holden was trying to merge into a lane when he struck another vehicle.
No children were on the bus at the time of the accident and neither Holden nor the other driver were hurt.
Holden was arrested however and charged with DUI.
Police have not yet revealed the bus company that Holden works for.
Also on NBC10.com:
A family of five including a 4-year-old boy were tied up when armed robbers stormed a Jersey Shore motel Monday night.
Police received a call around 9:30 p.m. that three men entered the Royal Lodge, owned by the Patel family, at 553 Absecon Blvd. in Absecon, N.J. The suspects entered the office and asked about room rates before brandishing a handgun and forcing their way behind the counter, according to police.
"They just started going inside the room, then I said, 'Stop, stop!'" said Baldev Patel.
The suspects bound the five victims with electrical cords before stealing about $3,000 in cash and $2,600 in jewelry and electronics, according to officials.
"He tried to kick me on my face with his feet," said Gigna Patel.
The Patel family managed to free themselves. They say the robbers were gone about 20 minutes after they showed up. Police say they fled in what may have been a dark-colored SUV.
While the family was not seriously hurt during the ordeal, they're now dealing with the psychological damage, especially the young boy.
"He's only four-years-old," said Gigna. "He's really scared. It is scary. When we closed our eyes last night we couldn't sleep, five people."
While the motel is equipped with surveillance cameras, the family says the robbers somehow disabled it and they haven't been able to turn them on.
Police say all three men wore black jackets, black boots, gray jeans and gray knitted hats with facemasks, stood 5-foot-10, weighed between 200 to 250 pounds and were between the ages of 25 and 35.
If you have any information on this incident, please call Absecon Police at 609-641-0667.
Several cars passed by as a man was stabbed to death Saturday.
Surveillance video captured multiple vehicles driving past the intersection of Broadway and Atlantic Avenue in Camden where a suspect fatally stabbed 57-year-old Timothy Appling, according to police.
The attack occurred around 2:45 a.m. and Appling died from his injuries several hours later at Cooper Hospital. Appling's daughter told NBC10 he was a father of seven and a grandfather of 17. She also says his killer stole $150 as well as his ID and social security card.
"The perpetrator was doing this in full view of people," said Jason Laughlin of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. "He had to be aware of the cars behind him. The assault continues to happen on the video."
The video shows five different vehicles drive past the brutal attack. Two cars stopped and one of those even circled back to get a closer look but no one got out to help him. One person eventually called 911.
"We have the advantage of knowing that there are witnesses out there and they could play a key role in bringing a killer to justice," Laughlin said.
The attacker can be seen in the video wearing a light-colored Carhartt jacket.
Police are asking for the drivers to come forward to help identify the suspect.
Someone stabbed an elderly man inside his home Tuesday morning then made off with the man’s car, according to police in South Jersey.
Egg Harbor Township Police responded to Pennsylvania Drive in the Tower East Mobile Home Park in Cardiff just before 9 a.m.
They found 91-year-old Charles Sweetman suffering from a stab wound -- his 2011 four-door, gray Dodge Charger missing.
Medics treated Sweetman at the scene before transporting him to AtlanticCare Regional Medical Center City Campus Trauma Center. He was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
According to police, someone entered the man’s home, attacked him and took the keys to his car before making off with the Charger, which has New Jersey tag W31 CMW.
Anyone with information or who posts the car can contact Egg Harbor Township detectives at (609) 926-4127, 4010 or 4051. Or the Contact Atlantic County Crime Stoppers at (609) 652-1234, 1-800-658-8477 or at www.crimestoppersatlantic.com.
A Bethlehem Township man is accused of shooting and killing his wife while their three children watched.
Officials say 37-year-old Win Min Htut shot his wife, 37-year-old Thida Myint outside their home on the 300 block of Central Park Avenue Tuesday shortly before 4 p.m. Myint's oldest daughter then called police while Htut allegedly fled the scene with his youngest daughter.
When police arrived at the scene Myint was found dead on the street. Witnesses say at one point, Myint's son kneeled over his mother's body while sobbing.
"My heart bleeds for the family and for the kids," said Joanie Alston, the victim's neighbor.
Officials say Htut was apprehended in Allentown shortly after police arrived and his daughter was found safe.
Neighbors told NBC10's George Spencer that Myint was a Southeast Asian immigrant who spoke little English. The neighbors also claimed that police went to the home earlier this week for a domestic disturbance and that Htut had a protective order against him that was just finalized Tuesday morning.
"I had asked the officer what had happened," said Gary Yost, another neighbor. "He said there were just some family problems. I'm shocked. They're very nice people."
All three children will be taken to the Office of Children and Youth. Htut is charged with criminal homicide, burglary and trespassing.
Also on NBC10.com:
One of the most prominent lawyers in Philadelphia’s history passed away on Tuesday while surrounded by family.
A. Charles Peruto Sr. -- a giant of Philly's legal scene -- died at the age of 86 at his home in Media, Pa. around 8 p.m. Tuesday, a family member told NBC10.
Prior to his death, Peruto was battling cancer and heart problems.
Throughout his career as a criminal defense lawyer, Peruto was known for his many high profile clients, including former Philadelphia Eagles owner Leonard Tose and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen.
Peruto attended Temple Law School and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1953.
Peruto earned several honors during his legendary law career, including the Widener Law Legacy Award back in 2010.
He is survived by his wife, daughter and three sons, including defense lawyer A. Charles Peruto Jr.
The family has not yet released details on funeral services.
A water main break added an extra obstacle to what already promised to be an icy commute this morning.
The broken main, which was blamed on frigid temps, spewed water onto busy eastbound Route 70 near Penn Avenue in Cherry Hill, N.J. around 1:30 a.m.
It caused minor traffic backups for hours as crews opened up the ground to fix the break in a 12-inch main about 5 feet under the asphalt. Merchantville Pennsauken Water Commission said it appeared shifting in the ground caused by cold weather caused the main to rupture.
By 4:30 a.m. the broken main caused the right and center lanes of eastbound Route 70 to be closed and the water began to freeze on the sidewalk and roadway.
Cherry Hill Police told NBC10's Jesse Gary they would like to at least keep part of the roadway opened for as along as possible. Crews said that the main runs parallel to the road and could possibly be fixed while leaving the left lane open -- the right lane remained open through the morning rush
NBC10's Jillian Mele suggested taking Route 38 at the 38/70 split and then taking Haddonfield Road back down to Route 70. She warned that Cuthbert Boulevard could back up as well as police divert traffic closer to the main break.
Delays weren't terrible through the morning as motorists were warned to avoid the area. They were also warned to slow down -- slippery conditions nearly caused a crash as a car moving too fast skidded out.
Crews remained on the scene by midday.
Toys ‘R’ Us is the latest retailer to say it will open its doors 24/7 leading up to Christmas.
It plans to be open around-the-clock — 87 straight hours — from 6 a.m. on Dec. 21 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
“With only eight shopping days remaining until Christmas, we are offering customers extended, uninterrupted time in stores, providing them the opportunity to shop whenever is most convenient for them — whether early in the morning or late at night,” Troy Rice, executive vice president of stores and services, said.
Kohl’s said it plans to stay open for 100 straight hours.
Toys ‘R’ Us’ store in New York City’s Times Square has been open 24/7 since Dec. 1. The Wayne, N.J.-based retailer has 877 stores, including about 30 in the Philadelphia market.
Read more about this story on PBJ.com
A suburban Philadelphia man who ran a gruesome dog-fighting operation out of the family home has been sentenced to 7-1/2 to 15 years behind bars.
The Chester County sentencing judge Tuesday said he found 34-year-old Shane Santiago's treatment of animals incomprehensible.
Santiago has been incarcerated since his arrest Dec. 5. He previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges of animal cruelty, child endangerment and other counts.
The dog-fighting ring was run out of Santiago's home in West Brandywine Township. Authorities say his children were exposed to grisly scenes including an animal being stomped to death by a group of men and a pit bull eating another dog.
Santiago's wife Laura Acampora was sentenced last week to 23 months behind bars for failing to shield her children from the gruesome enterprise.
About six weeks after an explosion leveled their South Jersey home, a couple severely burned is suing the contractor they believe is responsible for the blast.
James and Evelyn McCarty filed suit Wednesday morning in Cape May County against a propane gas company, contractor and five individuals they say failed to remove the propane tank from their property months before the explosion.
The McCarty's home along the 200 block of East Atlantic Avenue in The Villas, N.J. was leveled in the blast just before 4 p.m. on Nov. 7. The explosion was so strong, it was felt more than a mile away.
The couple, both 67, were inside the home when the gas ignited and suffered critical injuries in the explosion -- McCarty suffered severe burns while his wife suffered two broken legs and severe burns.
Cape May County Fire Marshal Connie Johnson told NBC10 that investigators were confident that a gas leak sparked the blast, but they are still honing in on the type of fuel involved.
"The strong indication is that this was a propane leak," he said after the blast. "We are confident that the incident was not caused by natural gas or the natural gas system."
According to Kline & Specter, the problem began in April 2013 when the McCartys decided to switch from propane to natural gas. In June, the McCartys hired contractor Shore Guys Heating and Air Conditioning, LLC, of Rio Grande, N.J. at the suggestion of Cape May Court House-based South Jersey Fuel & Propane to perform the transition.
The lawsuit alleges negligence against Shore Guys claiming that workers cut the propane pipes under the home and turned off the tank but never locked the tank and didn’t remove the tank from the property.
Kline & Specter said that the McCarty’s had a neighbor help them turn on their gas fireplace the day before the blast. The neighbor noticed the valve was closed and opened it up, unknowingly sending propane gas into the severed pipes – gathering under the house.
On Nov. 7 as McCarty turned on his shower igniting the hot water heater, the propane gas below the home ignited, according to the lawsuit.
"This tragedy was unavoidable. Today, the McCarty's take the first steps toward righting the wrong," said lawyer Shanin Specter.
Neighbors rushed to the home in the moments after the blast and several people helped carry Evelyn from the rubble to an ambulance that was arriving on the scene. James was later pulled out and put into a wheelchair before being rushed to the hospital.
Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the state fire marshal unit, Lower Township Police, Cape May County Prosecutor's Office and others were involved in the investigation.
The lawsuit seeks undisclosed damages for pain and suffering; mental anguish, medical expenses, humiliation, property damage, etc.
Police in South Jersey arrested the man overnight who they believe stabbed an elderly man during a violent home invasion and took the 91-year-old's car.
New Jersey State Police and U.S. Marshalls joined Cape May County Prosecutors and local police to arrest the 22-year-old suspect in the Villas section of the county.
Police didn't identify the suspect citing the ongoing investigation.
The arrest ended a daylong search. Someone stabbed Charles Sweetman inside his home Tuesday morning then made off with the man’s car, according to Egg Harbor Township Police.
Officers responded to Pennsylvania Drive in the Tower East Mobile Home Park in Cardiff just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. They found Sweetman suffering from a stab wound -- his 2011 four-door, gray Dodge Charger missing.
Medics treated Sweetman at the scene before transporting him to AtlanticCare Regional Medical Center City Campus Trauma Center. He was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
According to police, someone entered the man’s home, attacked him and took the keys to his car before making off with the Charger.
Authorities recovered Sweetman's vehicle during their investigation. The suspect was sent to jail unable to post $350,000 bail.
