Suspects use U-Haul truck to abduct robbery victims in Northeast Philadelphia: police
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Special Victims Unit and Northeast Detectives are investigating a frightening abduction and robbery pattern. Multiple victims were robbed at gunpoint and physically attacked.
Several people were forced into a U-Haul cargo van and taken to withdraw money from ATM machines.
Police say there are three incidents that are connected with the latest attack happening Thursday morning.
"These individuals are driving around looking for victims to rob," Philadelphia Police Inspector Matthew Gillespie said.
Police are looking for a group of teenagers wanted for three armed robberies in Northeast Philadelphia, two in which they kidnapped their victims and the other where police say they carjacked a man.
"In each instance, three to four individuals came out of a white U-Haul box van and robbed the complainants," Gillespie said.
Two incidents happened early Tuesday morning. The first was around 4 a.m. along the 1200 block of Academy Road.
"The female was walking down the street, they forced her into van, took some money from her and really most concerning was they discharged a firearm twice at her," Gillespie said.
The woman was punched in the face as they exited the van.
About 40 minutes later, police say the group moved up to the 6300 Block of Roosevelt Boulevard where they used their van to block in a man's car as he was parked at a TD Bank drive-thru ATM, pointing guns at the driver and demanding money before stealing his car.
"Brazen is the word that came to mind to me," Gillespie said.
The latest attack happened early Thursday morning along the 9200 block of Delaware Avenue where police say a victim was walking when the group pulled up and forced him into the same van.
"The person was abducted and taken to two different locations where money was tried to be withdrawn from their bank account," Gillespie said.
The thieves got away with $600 and the victim's phone. Police are calling this a crime of opportunity and warning the public to be on alert.
"We certainly don't want it to escalate and we want to get them off the street as soon as possible," Gillespie said.
Police believe all three robberies may be connected.
Anyone who says anything related to these incidents or has video from the area is asked to call Philadelphia police.