PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Authorities are searching for the man they say held a FedEx employee at gunpoint before tying him up and stealing packages from a delivery vehicle last week in Northeast Philadelphia.
Philadelphia police released surveillance video to ask for help from the public to identify and locate the suspect.
The carjacking and robbery happened last week Thursday around 11 a.m. on Tackawanna Street near Church Street in the Frankford section of the city, Capt. John Ryan said.
The driver was taken by surprise, Ryan said. "The man was delivering packages, working for FedEx. He was in the back."
Surveillance video (above) released by police shows the suspect boarding the truck, pointing a gun at the employee and hopping in the driver’s seat.
He then drove a few blocks south, to the 1600 block of Womrath Street, near Frankford Avenue, where Ryan says he crashed the truck. The man then took some packages off the truck and fled on foot. He was last seen walking eastward on Womwrath Street toward Orchard Street.
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The driver involved in the incident was not physically injured, Ryan said.
Ryan says it is very important that police to stop the person responsible for the robbery.
"We’re looking to hit him for a variety of other crimes down in the area, but we don’t have anything tied to him, yet. This seems to be an isolated incident at this time. We don’t have a pattern of delivery drivers being targeted," he said.
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Given the pattern of carjackings happening throughout the city, Ryan has this advice for the public: Give up the vehicle without a fight. Property can be recovered.
"They should always just take care to be aware of their surroundings," Ryan said.
Police advise anyone who sees the suspect to contact 911 immediately and to not approach him. If you have any information about this crime or this suspect, please contact Northeast Detective Division at 215-686-3153 or 215-686-3154. To submit a confidential tip via phone or text: 215-686-8477.