PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police are looking to identify a group of robbers armed with a hammer who attacked multiple people this week across North and Northeast Philadelphia.
They say it all started on Wednesday a little after 4 p.m. when a 13-year-old boy was approached by four men, all wearing black masks.
That’s when police say one of the men pulled out a handgun while the others attacked the kid by punching, kicking, and stomping on him before knocking him to the ground where one of them whipped out a hammer and hit him in the arms, legs, and head.
They got away with a black hoodie and New Balance sneakers.
About an hour later, the suspects targeted another person who was waiting for the bus near Adams and Rising Sun avenues. They punched the victim then told him to drop his things. They stole his bag, which had his school laptop inside, and Yeezy sneakers.
On Thursday, around 12 p.m., they knocked a person down near Rising Sun Avenue and stole his sneakers. One of the suspects reportedly pulled out a small sledgehammer.
They fled the scene in a white Acura MDX with a New Jersey license plate.
The suspects struck twice more that same day — once on West Cheltenham Avenue and then on Krewstown and Surrey roads.
While on West Cheltenham, three people in ski masks singled out a person walking home from school, yelling for him to give them his shoes before hitting him in the head with a hammer.
They took to Krewstown and Surrey roads a few hours later, approaching a man walking by a diner.
Police say the victim sensed something was wrong when he saw around six or seven people wearing ski masks running up to him. They say he ran into the street and one of the suspects started swinging a hammer at him while others kicked and punched him.
They ended up taking his bike and shoes — the former was recovered.
Police ask anyone with information to contact 215-686-3153.