PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Two families were victims of separate home invasions over the weekend in Philadelphia, and police are now searching for the suspects.
In both incidents, the armed suspects used zip ties to restrain their victims and demanded money. But police say at this point they have no evidence to suggest the cases are connected.
Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, police say a pair of masked men were hiding outside of a home on the 2100 block of Princeton Avenue.
Surveillance video shows the moment the victim arrived, the suspects leading him inside at gunpoint, where they zip-tied him in front of his four children and demanded cash.
They then drove the victim in his own car over to his brother’s house on Comly Street; that man was also tied up and abducted.
Police were able to track the car and catch up with the suspects on Albright Street in Kensington. There was a confrontation, and an officer fired their weapon. No one was struck. The abducted men were freed, but the suspects got away, running off in opposite directions. Investigators believe this was a targeted attack.
“It’s obvious they were targeting them for a reason. They believed there was some type of cash that they had available and there really was none there, so the demand went empty and then they fled,” said Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore.
Less than 24 hours later, just before midnight Saturday on Marwood Road in Olney, a man was sitting on his porch when a masked intruder pointed a gun at him and forced his way inside. That lone suspect also used zip ties to restrain the man, his wife, and their 13-year-old daughter before stealing $1,000. The father was taken to the hospital with a head injury.
“We’re looking to compare video, but right now I don’t have this incident connected to any other incident,” said Deputy Commissioner Vanore.
In both cases, the victims said they did not recognize the suspects. On Monday, police released new images of the suspects in the Princeton Avenue incident. One man is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, wearing a black bomber jacket. The other is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, wearing a navy blue jacket. Police believe he jumped on a bike when fleeing.
Detectives are continuing to canvass the area, looking for additional surveillance footage of the suspects. If you think you can help, police ask you to give them a call.
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