Briefly... CITY/REGION

Bank robbers see red

A teller at the Sovereign Bank at 15th and Market streets had a special Christmas present for the two armed men who held her up Tuesday - a red dye pack tucked into the loot she handed over.

The result was that one of the men was arrested soon after in a fast-food restaurant at 17th and Walnut streets. He was identified as Maurice Smith, aka Abdul Hakeem, 29, of Ruffner Street near Wissahickon Avenue. The other robber - a tall black man in his 30s with a full beard - escaped. Tipsters should call the FBI at 215-418-4000.

Schedule of Christmas Masses

Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate midnight Mass Christmas Eve at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul.

Christmas vigil Masses will be celebrated at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Archdiocesan Boys Choir will sing carols at 7 p.m. Beginning at 10:45 p.m., there will be a festival of Christmas carols, prelude music and other sacred choral works performed by the Cathedral Basilica Brass Quartet and Timpani.

Toys, cocoa for zoo-goers

From next Wednesday through Friday, the Philadelphia Zoo will give each visitor 12 and under a free toy gift upon entering the zoo. For zoo members, free hot chocolate will be available inside the Treehouse during normal daily winter operating hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Caretaker charged in homicide

Yolanda Steele, 32, has been charged with murder in the fatal beating Wednesday of Sidney Wenoff, 82, who had been under her care at his home on Frontage Street, Camden. *

-Staff and wire reports