Man Wanted For 3 Armed Robberies At Multiple Philadelphia SEPTA Stations Taken Into Police Custody, Officials Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The suspect wanted for three gunpoint robberies at multiple SEPTA stations is now in police custody, a SEPTA spokesperson announced on Sunday. The robberies took place at two of Philadelphia's busiest SEPTA hubs.
SEPTA put out a suspect photo less than 24 hours after the initial attack happened, hoping to stop any future ones. On Sunday around 8:30 p.m., they got their man, but still, the threat may not be over.
"It's very concerning," Andrew Busch, a SEPTA spokesperson, said.
"These incidents all had very similar characteristics in terms of how he approached people, demanded cash," Busch said.
The first happened around 2 p.m. on Saturday between the City Hall and 15th Street Stations. Officials say three men entered the concourse, one demanding money from a pair of victims while holding a gun. SEPTA police quickly picked up two of the robbers, however, the third got away.
But it didn't take long for this now lone criminal to find his next victims, and they all had something in common
"It just seemed like crimes of opportunity," Busch said. "He was able to get people in an area where there weren't many other folks around."
Police say shortly after 9 p.m. on the Market-Frankford Line at 30th Street Station, the single suspect held up three people in two separate incidents.
In one, he forced two individuals to hand over their ATM cards and pins. The gunman then withdrew several hundred dollars in cash and went undetected.
Now, many who live near and travel via these transit hubs told Eyewitness News they're on extra alert.
"We try to be smart about when we go places and our surroundings," Jennifer Greco said.
SEPTA says that while they have increased security in recent months, but tell Eyewitness News they are struggling to fill at least 30 open positions.
"We have limited resources," Busch said.
That gap, coupled with reduced ridership down by more than 50% since COVID – may be putting everyone at risk.
"There is safety in numbers, so as you get more people on the system we do think it becomes safer," Busch said.
No one was hurt in any of the robberies. Again, that suspect is in police custody. Eyewitness News is still working to learn how officials tracked him down.
