$25K Reward Offered in Chain of Northeast Philly Wawa Robberies
By Al Novak and Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Northeast Philadelphia convenience store has been robbed for the fourth time in several weeks, possibly by the same bandit.
The Philadelphia police have released surveillance video of the latest crime, Wawa and the Citizens Crime Commission are now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
The latest armed holdup took place about 2 a.m. January 13 at the Wawa store located in the 6400 block of Bustleton Avenue.
Police say that at the time of the hold-up, four employees and seven customers were in the store.
"A male entered the store through the front door, point of gun, wearing a mask, immediately went up to the assistant manager and demanded that the manager empty two cash registers as well as a safe that were all behind the counter," says Philadelphia Police Department Chief Inspector Scott Small.
Small says the bandit took about $1,500 cash, grabbed a carton of cigarettes, and ran out the back door.
Small says store security cameras captured the robbery and detectives are going over that tape and video of similar recent robberies. He says they now suspect the same person may be behind all of the robberies.
Police say the customers and employees were all shook up, but no one was hurt and no shots were fired.
Anyone with information regarding the incidents above should contact the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS or contact Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153.