PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Cheltenham Township police are searching for thieves who robbed an armored truck of at least $700,000 Tuesday morning.
Officials said it was just after 10:30 a.m. when they got a call for a robbery outside of the H Mart on Cheltenham Avenue and Old York Road.
Lieutenant Andy Snyder, patrol commander for Cheltenham Township Police, said two people ambushed an armored truck driver.
“One of the individuals was armed with an AK-style rifle and the other with a handgun,” he said. “During the robbery, the suspects took the armored car driver's gun from them and then proceeded to take between $700,000 and $800,000 from the armored car.”
Snyder said the suspects then fled in a black Acura TLX with tinted windows.
“They fled westbound on Cheltenham Avenue and then into Philadelphia,” said Snyder. “At that point, we don't know beyond that where they fled towards.”
It’s too early to say if this is linked to other robberies in the area, but Snyder confirmed it’s a possibility and said officials will look at data and evidence during their ongoing investigation.
On July 2, an armored truck was robbed in Holmesburg. Another attempted armored truck robbery occurred on July 15 in Northeast Philadelphia, according to police.
Snyder wants the public to be aware if they see incidents like this.
“Be the best witness possible, don't intervene, and get as much information as possible to the police.”