Philadelphia police are trying to identify a group of young men who may have been responsible for three muggings in the Castor Gardens section of the Northeast last month.
The crimes occurred on April 17 and 18 and involved four teenagers or young adults, police said.
On April 17, a Wednesday, at about 9:10 p.m., the foursome approached an unspecified number of victims who were walking along the 6600 block of Rutland St. The offenders allegedly assaulted the victims and attempted to steal a cell phone from one of them. The attackers failed to get the phone, however, and fled the area on foot. About 20 minutes later, a group of four males attacked a man who was walking on the same block of Rutland St. The muggers took the victim’s cell phone during the assault, then fled the area on foot.
The following evening, at about 6:38 p.m., a group of four robbers attacked a man as he walked along the 6600 block of Souder St., about four blocks from the site of the earlier crimes. This time, the assailants assaulted the man, stole $40 cash from his pocket and fled on foot.
In the first two cases, the robbers were described as four black males, all about 16 years old, all 5 feet 8 inches tall and all with light complexions. In the second robbery, one suspect wore a green long-sleeve shirt, another wore a white polo-style shirt, another wore a gray sweatshirt and another wore a burgundy shirt with a yellow logo.
In the April 18 case, the robbers were described as black males between 17 and 21 years old and ranging in height from 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall. One wore a blue short-sleeve shirt, while another wore a black long-sleeve shirt.
Call 215–686-TIPS or text to PPD TIP to report information about the crimes. ••
