PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A couple has been arrested and will be charged for their roles in a string of robberies.
Philadelphia District Attorney's Office says Christina Kolenda and Maurice Allen’s crime spree started on Aug. 11 in Center City when they robbed a pedestrian. They struck again 10 days later at C&C Creamery in Roxborough.
A week after that, they held up a Dunkin' in North Philadelphia then robbed two nail salons — during one of which, a woman was shot and injured. They say the two were “dressed head-to-toe in traditional Muslim garments” during most of the robberies.
"These are crimes against workers,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “They are crimes against those businesses and the owners of those businesses. These are the kinds of crimes that are utterly unacceptable and very difficult for people that are retailers trying to work in the city."
Investigators say they were able to track down the suspects after tracing the license plate of a 2007 Hyundai to Kolenda. They obtained an arrest warrant and took her into custody. A separate warrant allowed them to gain access to her phone, linking her to Allen
In total, the DA's office says thousands of dollars were stolen.
Allen and Kolenda will be charged later this week with five counts each of robbery, conspiracy, aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person.