Robberies reported on Schuylkill River Trail

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Trail is once again the center of concern.

Police say two people have been robbed in recent days and now there's a push for increased security on the trail.

Last week, near Race Street, police say a group of teens muscled someone off their bike and stole it.

Then over the weekend, near 25th and Locust streets, police say two teens jumped a jogger, darting away with his iPhone.

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson worries this will deter people from using the trail.

"They're coming down to this trail, up to no good. They should find something else positive to do, instead of playing on the trails and robbing individuals," Johnson said.

Last year, more lights and mile markers were installed, along with a newly founded trail watch.

Anthony Murphy, the Executive Direction of the Town Watch Integrated Service, says the town watch is working.

"Even though they've had these incidents, if you look at it over the period of time and number of incidents here compared to any neighborhood, it's far fewer, so I think it's working," Murphy said.

But the incidents are a reminder to trail users to do their part and stay alert.

"It's on us to have an open eye and make sure we don't get robbed," Orlando Diaz of South Jersey said.

City officials say funding is now in place to install cameras along the trail.

At the earliest that will be installed sometime late summer with emergency call boxes to follow later in the year.

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