Another Northeast Philadelphia Wawa was recently held up overnight, this time by a masked man who let the clerk know exactly what he wanted despite being in a busy store.
"Give me all the bills in the register.”
That’s what Philadelphia Police say the man with his face covered told employees Tuesday night around 11:15 at the convenience store location at 7001 Roosevelt Boulevard in the Oxford Circle section of the city.
Surveillance video shows the disguised man approach the counter. As he gets near you see him look up at a customer in the store who was holding up his young daughter as he checked out.
After the unassuming man and his child leave, the man with a scarf over his face goes to the counter with some small bills then holds his hand in the pocket of his hoodie.
Police said the man, who was appeared to be in his 40s, standing around 5-foot-6-inches tall and weighing about 170 to 200 pounds, told the clerk he was armed.
The clerk hands over an undetermined amount of money. The masked man then leaves the store -- walking out at the same time as another customer.
No one was hurt.
This Wawa location is the same one where a man with his face partially covered by a winter hat and dark turtle neck struck last month.
Police said that man grabbed a coffee and approached the counter seemingly to pay. After the clerk told the man the cost of the cup of joe, the suspect sated “damn that’s a lot” then placed his hand in his jacket, according to police Northeast Detectives.
The clerk told police that the man said “give me all the small bills!”
The clerk complied, handed over a handful of cash and the offender fled from the store headed towards Tyson Avenue, according to investigators.
Security was increased at another Oxford Circle Wawa store less than a mile away after a recent string of robberies at the Wawa at Bustleton Pike and Levick Street
The Bustleton Pike store was held up Jan. 15 by a man carrying a semi-automatic handgun. A $25,000 reward was offered in that case and others because since October that same store has been hit four other times by masked robbers.
An armed man, wearing a “Scream” mask like the one worn in the horror-movie franchise, entered the store on Nov. 26 and demanded money, according to Philadelphia Police. An employee handed over an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and the masked man fled from the store.
Police officers at that time told NBC10 that they believe this same suspect struck the store before -- captured on surveillance video.
The earlier thefts also featured masked robbers coming in between 3 to 4 a.m. and demanding money. In an Oct. 1 incident, two masked men burst into the store and made off with cash. Then, on Nov. 4 a masked man made off with cash from the register.
Finally, on Nov. 21, a man in a "Scream" masked burst in and demanded money.
A nearby Wawa store on Krewstown Road was also held up in late December.
It's unclear if all the thefts are connected.
Wawa says it has taken measure to try and prevent thefts at its stores: "The safety and security of our associates and customers is of utmost importance to us. Our priority is always to ensure the safety and security of our associates and our customers at this store, and we have been pursuing all avenues..."
Anyone with information should contact police and/or call Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153/54.
Photo Credit: Surveillance Image care of Philadelphia Police