Cops: 2 teens nabbed in violent Temple robbery spree

Two teenage boys have been arrested in connection to a string of at least six gunpoint robberies in the area around Temple University, police said.

Investigators believe the boys, 16 and 17, are the ones seen in surveillance video, released by police last month, scouting North Philly for potential victims.

The boys, who have not been identified, were arrested early this morning and are in the process of being arraigned, a police spokeswoman said. They will likely face robbery, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy and related offenses.

Despite their relative youth, the suspects were savvy, often luring their victims into a false sense of security by striking up a conversation, police said.

"You can say they've done this before. Their behavior isn't that of an amateur," Capt. Frank Banford, head of Central Detectives, said at the height of the robberies.

They allegedly struck between May 14 and 20. The final night was the most violent: Police responded to two robberies just five minutes and about five blocks apart.

The teens, one of whom carried a backpack, would walk up to a victim, show a handgun and demand money and smartphones, police said.

In one instance, police said, the suspects distracted the target with questions like, "Where can I catch the subway?" and walked with him for two blocks before robbing him.