Police on Saturday morning were investigating the latest in a string of gunpoint robberies plaguing a Philadelphia college campus.
Near Temple University's campus in North Philadelphia, there have been four gunpoint robberies -- including one of a Temple football player -- since Thursday morning, police said. At least three of the robberies targeted university students.
Police provided details on the two most recent incidents:
On Friday night about 7:15, police said, a 25-year-old man arrived home outside his apartment at 19th and Diamond streets when two men, both armed with guns, approached him and forced him into the apartment. They then pistol-whipped the victim, police said, and stole his gold jewelry and watch before fleeing. The victim was treated for a laceration near his eye and released from the hospital.
Police released descriptions of the robbers late Saturday morning: One is described as a black man about 25 years old, 6 feet 4 and thin, with a light complexion, light eyes and a tattoo under one eye. He wore a black jacket, black sweatpants, white socks, black Reebok sneakers and carried a silver revolver with a black handle at the time of the crime, police said. The second was described as a black man about 27 years old, 175 pounds and 5 feet 10, with a dark complexion, a mustache and goatee and missing top front teeth. He wore an olive-colored jacket, jeans and carried a small silver pistol at the time of the robbery, police said.
Police have not specified whether that home invasion involved any Temple students, but hours later, shortly after 1 a.m., a TU Alert went out to university students warning them of a second armed robbery just off campus, at Broad and Jefferson streets.
"Armed robbery reported at Broad and Jefferson streets. Use caution. Avoid the area. Police are responding. Temple related," the alert text read. Police had not yet revealed additional details on the robbery late Saturday morning.
The robberies are the latest in a string of attacks around Temple over the last several days. Earlier this week, police released surveillance video showing suspects in two additional robberies early Thursday: one on 15th Street near Montgomery Avenue just after 3 a.m. and another near 10th Street and Susquehanna Avenue just after midnight, in which a student was carjacked at gunpoint.
Despite their proximity in time, police do not believe the robberies Thursday morning were related, as descriptions of suspects in each incident varied. It was unclear Saturday whether either of the two most recent robberies was related to Thursday's incidents.
The robberies come on the heels of a violent attack Sept. 28 in which police say a man accosted a 20-year-old Temple student as she walked home from the library and raped and robbed her at gunpoint. In that attack, police announced earlier this week that 23-year-old Shakree Bennett has been charged.
Tipsters with information in any of the robberies should call Central Detectives at 215-686-3047, the police tip line at 215-686-8477, text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or email tips@phillypolice.com.
Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police
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