Investigators believe that the same three men committed two violent armed robberies of 7-eleven stores in the 15th Police District within 20 minutes of each other last Sunday.
At about 1:25 a.m., the unidentified bandits burst into the store at 7901 Frankford Ave. in Holmesburg and announced a hold-up. In a seemingly orchestrated effort, one accomplice stood by the door, while a second jumped over the front counter, pulled a gun on the clerk and demanded cash. That offender pistol-whipped the clerk in the head and knocked him to the ground, before the third accomplice punched him several times in the head.
Ultimately, the crooks snatched $150 cash from two registers and grabbed packs of cigarettes. They fled the store and sped away in a car.
The clerk was hospitalized for complaints of head pain.
At about 1:45 a.m., three men fitting the same descriptions went into the 7-eleven at 2634 Bridge St. in Bridesburg. Donning black masks and brandishing multiple handguns, the robbers grabbed $300 cash from a register, as well as several boxes of Newport cigarettes and the clerk’s wallet, police said. A witness said the bandits fled in a red or maroon car, possibly a Honda, with a loud muffler. They were last seen driving toward the Interstate 95 entrance.
The robbers were described as three black men, ages 18 to 23. One is about six feet tall and thin. He wore a black mask, black hoodie and black gloves. The other two suspects were described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall and thin. They both wore black masks, black hoodies and gloves. Call 215–686-TIPS or text to PPD TIP to report information about the case. ••
