FBI investigating string of 7-Eleven robberies across Philadelphia region
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two more 7-Eleven robberies Tuesday morning may be part of a streak of robberies at the convenience stores across the region, authorities say.
The latest robbery happened after 2 a.m. at the store on Ridge Avenue in Roxborough. At 1:30 a.m., a 7-Eleven was robbed on Fayette Street in Conshohocken.
Conshohocken police say two men armed with handguns and wearing sunglasses, ski masks, hoodies, sweatpants and sneakers entered the store and demanded money from the clerk.
"The Conshohocken Police Department is actively investigating this incident, and if it is tied to other 7-11 robberies in the area," Acting Chief David Lennon wrote in a news release.
In the Roxborough incident, the robbers took less than $500 and no one was hurt. They were also wearing sunglasses, ski masks and sweatpants - similar clothing to what suspects wore in the other recent robberies across the Philadelphia suburbs.
Police say the Roxborough incident is the first one of the possible spree to take place in Philadelphia. Three of the 7-Eleven locations are in Delaware County, one is in Bucks County and two are in Montgomery County.
Surveillance video from the robbery in Upper Southampton Township showed a man jumping over the counter.
Also in that video, a suspect is seen wearing light green gloves. Police say a suspect in the Roxborough robbery was wearing light green gloves too.
Officials believe the same group is responsible for the armed robberies. They say one suspect will wait by the door while the other two confront a store employee, make threats and brandish a gun. In some of the incidents, they have gone behind the counter to get cash.
In the more recent robberies, only two men have been present, according to police. They were wearing all black with their faces covered in masks and sunglasses.
"I don't know what goes through the minds of criminals when there are cameras that are visible," JJ Klaver, a retired FBI Supervisory Agent, said.
Klaver says the video showing the gloves and bag is notable.
"Those little clues can be important in linking the crimes together," Klaver said.
Vincent Emmanuel of the Delaware Valley 7-Eleven franchise owners association says the suspects may get away with some cash but the fear that workers and store owners are left comes at a much greater cost.
"The store owner is terrified not about the money, he's worried about the next day he's going to lose those people working for him," Emmanuel said. "They'll realize that they don't need to go through this to make a living."
In Roxborough, a local resident said neighbors are on edge about other robberies as well.
"I know the locals are really concerned about it," the resident said. "But we've just got to stay together as a community and hope that things will get better."
We spoke to another person who visits the store that was robbed as well as other nearby 7-Elevens on Ridge on her way to work.
"I'm just afraid I might be in one of them one day when whoever they are come in and do what they do," she said.
"You know, there's jobs out here. Get a job! We work hard for our money," she added. "I just hope they catch them."
A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.