PA man robbed twice, family missing after Nepal earthquake

BRISTOL TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A man in Bristol Township has suffered unspeakable hardship this week, both from natural tragedy in Nepal and from two horrific events at home of the manmade variety.

Two armed robbers hit the Pioneer gas station in Bristol Township days apart in two separate crimes.

Monday at 8:00 p.m. a suspect came in armed with a knife.

Surveillance shows he grabbed the attendant and ripped the victim's smartphone out of his hand.

The suspect then hit the cash register, stealing as many bills as he could.

The thief may not realize when he took the victim's phone he ripped a lifeline out of his hand.

Dipak Paraduli is from Nepal.

His wife and young son were reported missing in this past weekend's earthquake.

All his photos of them are on his iPhone and that smartphone is his main line of communication, including his family member's numbers.

The week then got worse.

On Wednesday around 2:00 p.m. while Paraduli was on duty, another robber, this time armed with a gun, hit the store. The gunman stole cash and beat Paraduli and threatened him.

"He kicked me and said 'if you give any information, I kill you,'" Paraduli said.

Police believe the suspects know each other.

There was also an attempted armed robbery an hour later on Wednesday at another Bristol gas station three miles away.

Paraduli, meanwhile, is now working out of state.

Anyone with information should call the tipline at 215-788-8289.