Police: Armed bandit on robbery spree in N. Philly

Police believe a man who shot and wounded a customer during a robbery of a North Philadelphia grocery store last Friday went on to commit two other holdups in the same area.

About 3:40 p.m. Saturday, police believe, the same man robbed a corner store on the 2200 block of North 16th Street. After pointing a handgun through the glass opening at the counter, he fired his gun once and fled with an unknown amount of cash, police said.

Then, about 7:15 p.m. Saturday, the same man entered a mini market on the 2000 block of North 16th Street and demanded money, police said. After someone in the store began wrestling with him for control of his gun, the bandit fled, police said.

In last Friday's robbery, the man entered a grocery store on the 2000 block of North Gratz Street and demanded money from the cashier while holding a black revolver. When a 45-year-old male customer who frequents the store tried to stop the robbery, he was shot once in the right leg, police said.

Anyone with information about the man seen in the store surveillance video from the Gratz Street robbery is asked to contact the Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093 or the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips, which can be anonymous, can also be submitted online.