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2007-06-22 06:53:37 UTC
SEPTA Riders Targeted By String Of Armed Robberies
Walt Hunter
Reporting ( Story and video )
(CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA SEPTA is increasing security after a string of
armed robberies on trains in early June.
The first robbery happened June 7 at about 10:00 p.m. on the Broad
Street Line at the Oregon Avenue stop. Following that attack, four
other robberies took place within two hours.
In the most serious attack, a SEPTA El rider was pistol-wiped,
beaten, and robbed.
"The guy said 'I'm dead serious' and whacked him across the face with
a gun and said, 'if you don't give me your money, I'm going to kill
you,'" Michele Williams, a victim's mother said.
The 21-year-old was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital with
severe injuries.
"His face was swollen, he couldn't talk, he had a headache for three
days, he couldn't work," Michele explained.
The second and third attacks happened at 11:28 p.m.; one at Spring
Garden and the other at Margaret and Orthodox. The fourth attack
occurred at the Fern Rock station and the final attack happened at
15th Street.
A quote from SEPTA's information bulletin read in part:
"Tony Soprano didn't get whacked last week but we surely did. It's as
if we put out the "Welcome" sign to all thieves, thugs and miscreants
to come and have their way with us," Chief Richard Evans of the
Transit Police Department said.
"We responded immediately by putting additional officers out on the
system and putting more uniformed officers on platforms," SEPTA's
Assistant General Manager James Jordan said.
Jordan acknowledged that five robberies in a matter of two is unusual
spike but said SEPTA is taking steps to prevent any similar
occurrences.
"Since that time, we've seen no further incident," Jordan explained.
However, Michele Williams is not convinced and is scared to ride the
SEPTA El.
"I will walk 10 blocks if I have to but I will not ride the El,
absolutely not," Williams explained.
SEPTA said there are currently no surveillance cameras in any
platforms, trains, or buses and that is a fact that has many
concerned and angered.
"What point does it have to get to before you put cameras on the El,"
Williams wondered.
SEPTA said they do plan to have cameras on both rolling equipment and
stations but those plans have been set back because of a lack of
money
http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_172173058.html
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Walt Hunter
Reporting ( Story and video )
(CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA SEPTA is increasing security after a string of
armed robberies on trains in early June.
The first robbery happened June 7 at about 10:00 p.m. on the Broad
Street Line at the Oregon Avenue stop. Following that attack, four
other robberies took place within two hours.
In the most serious attack, a SEPTA El rider was pistol-wiped,
beaten, and robbed.
"The guy said 'I'm dead serious' and whacked him across the face with
a gun and said, 'if you don't give me your money, I'm going to kill
you,'" Michele Williams, a victim's mother said.
The 21-year-old was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital with
severe injuries.
"His face was swollen, he couldn't talk, he had a headache for three
days, he couldn't work," Michele explained.
The second and third attacks happened at 11:28 p.m.; one at Spring
Garden and the other at Margaret and Orthodox. The fourth attack
occurred at the Fern Rock station and the final attack happened at
15th Street.
A quote from SEPTA's information bulletin read in part:
"Tony Soprano didn't get whacked last week but we surely did. It's as
if we put out the "Welcome" sign to all thieves, thugs and miscreants
to come and have their way with us," Chief Richard Evans of the
Transit Police Department said.
"We responded immediately by putting additional officers out on the
system and putting more uniformed officers on platforms," SEPTA's
Assistant General Manager James Jordan said.
Jordan acknowledged that five robberies in a matter of two is unusual
spike but said SEPTA is taking steps to prevent any similar
occurrences.
"Since that time, we've seen no further incident," Jordan explained.
However, Michele Williams is not convinced and is scared to ride the
SEPTA El.
"I will walk 10 blocks if I have to but I will not ride the El,
absolutely not," Williams explained.
SEPTA said there are currently no surveillance cameras in any
platforms, trains, or buses and that is a fact that has many
concerned and angered.
"What point does it have to get to before you put cameras on the El,"
Williams wondered.
SEPTA said they do plan to have cameras on both rolling equipment and
stations but those plans have been set back because of a lack of
money
http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_172173058.html
***********************************************************
Stans Railpix railphotoexpress.com Store !!
http://www.cafepress.com/stans_railpix
Stan'S Railpix;-A-Rail-Photo-Gallery !!
http://www.trainweb.org/railpix
Will remain a FREE site with 2426+1/2 images posted.
***********************************************************