Woman, 91, bites suspect in Cobbs Creek burglary

COBBS CREEK (WPVI) -- When a 91-year-old woman walked in on two men burglarizing her Cobbs Creek home, police say the suspects attacked her but the victim fought back, at one point biting one of the assailants.

The incident happened in the 6200 block of Carpenter Street around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Bruised and sore Audrey Washington, spoke about her scary ordeal.

She was at a local senior center when she returned home. When she opened the door and walked in on two men in the middle of a burglary.

"I didn't see a thing. That's the hard thing about it, I put the key in the lock, opened the door and zoom something went over head and my face," said Washington.

The men then snatched her jewelry off of her fingers.

"They grabbed my hands, I had rings on, they took both my rings," she said.

With her head still covered, one of the men punched Washington in the mouth but she fought back.

"Somebody put their hand up to my face and I bit their finger," she said.

Washington was hit again and fell to her knees blacking out.

"I'm sore. First I'm shocked that this happened to me because I never thought it would happen to me and mad at the same time," she said.

Meanwhile the men fled out the back door with a TV stuffed in a suitcase.

The suitcase was later found in a nearby alley.

One of Washington's rings was recovered but the men stole the diamond ring given to her by her deceased husband.

Washington has lived in her home 50 years and has never had any trouble.

An outgoing upbeat woman, she's thankful to be alive but she hopes the young men are caught

"I hope they find them. In spite of my injuries I try and keep a good spirit about everything and ask the Lord to keep me another day," said Washington.

A clue that might help police nab the suspects, authorities say one important piece of evidence was left behind.

"In the situation here, they have gloves on so it's going to be tough to get forensic evidence. Fortunately we were able to recover were those gloves so hopefully DNA will lead us to a suspect," said Lt. John Walker, Philadelphia Police.

The suspects are described as:

Suspect #1: Black male, 18-20 years old, 5'8" tall wearing a black and white shirt with brown pants.

Suspect #2: Black male, 18-20 years old, wearing a long gray sweatshirt and dark pants.

Neighbors tell Action News that there has been a rash of burglaries in the neighborhood.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).