Bandits hide in restroom, rob Northeast Target at gunpoint

A trio of robbers hid in the bathroom of a Somerton Target store last night and robbed the store of tens of thousands of dollars when employees closed it for the night, police said.

About 10 minutes after employees closed the Target on Roosevelt Boulevard near Haldeman Avenue at 10 p.m., the trio – at least one of whom was armed – emerged from the restroom and demanded the key to the safe, police said. When the employees told the bandits they didn't have access to the safe, one brandished a small silver handgun and forced them to open six cash registers. One of the men unloaded cash from each register into a dark-colored bag held open by another, according to investigators.

Police said today that the amount of cash taken was unknown, but estimated it to be up to $30,000.

After gathering their loot, the armed trio fled the store on foot. A witness told police they were last seen headed toward the Haldeman Manor Apartments, on Haldeman Avenue near Red Lion Road.

Police described the bandits as follows:

-          Black man, about 5 feet 5 with a dark complexion. He wore glasses, a black hooded sweatshirt reading "Make the dream real," gray pants and green sneakers and brandished a small silver handgun.

-          Black man, light complexion. Wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored pants, a fake beard and white and gray Air Max sneakers, and carried a dark-colored backpack.

-          Black man, dark complexion. Wore dark-colored hat, gray hooded sweatshirt with white and red writing and gray pants.

The robbery remains under investigation. Tipsters should contact Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153.

--Morgan Zalot