Police: Violent bank robber sought in Philadelphia

CENTER CITY -- Philadelphia police are trying to track down a violent repeat bank robber in the city's Chinatown section.

Police said all three mid-day robberies had a similar description involving a man armed with a knife.

Surveillance video captured a man armed with a knife during two recent robberies at Abacus Federal Savings Bank.

The first occurred on Saturday, September 9 just after 1:20 p.m., and another on Monday the 19th just before 12:30 p.m.

The suspect, a black male in his 20s or 30s, 5'10, with a thin build, was seen one time wearing a distinctive hat with Philadelphia on it, and another wearing sunglasses with gold siding.

Then on Saturday, just before 12 p.m., Parke Bank near 11th and Arch streets was hit.

Police have not released surveillance photos of that robbery, but officials say the assailant fits the same description down to sunglasses with gold sides; he was armed with a knife and hit mid-day.

Chinatown businesses already see the wanted posters up.

Kim Huynh of Asia Bakery said, "It concerns me because before nothing happened like that."

In at least one case, the assailant threatened an employee's life.

Authorities consider him armed and dangerous.

"People are talking about it. Chinatown is not just a business area, but also a resident area. We have community members living here. We have a lot of community members that live here and don't speak English, so I'm concerned about them," Chinatown resident Wei Chen said.

Anyone with information about these robberies is asked to call 215-418-4000.

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