Briefly... CITY/REGION

Gun buy nets tough treatment

The city-state Gun Violence Task Force announced yesterday that it has seized a 2003 Hummer in connection with a straw purchase of a handgun and intends to seek forfeiture of the

vehicle.

"We intend to make straw purchasing as costly as possible to deter those who would otherwise involve themselves in this type of scheme," District Attorney Lynne Abraham said.

The Hummer is owned by Gary Jackson, 41, of Frankford, a convicted felon who is alleged to have driven it to a gun store outside the city with Ronald McBeth, 41, who allegedly bought a handgun for Jackson.

Cop spends free time as cop

Police Officer Antoine Green was commended yesterday at a news conference at the 1st District, 24th and Wolf streets, after nabbing two robbery suspects while he was off duty.

It was about 5 p.m. Tuesday when Green followed two men after seeing them knock down an elderly woman on Cedar Avenue near Yewdall Street, West Philadelphia, police said.

One of the men pulled a gun on Green, but didn't fire. Green cornered one man in an alley near 54th and Norfolk streets later and arrested him. Police said Brandon Carr, 24, and a 17-year-old were charged with robbery and related offenses.

ATM burglars sought

Police are searching for a band of burglars that has knocked off numerous automated teller machines throughout the city by using a blowtorch.

Chief Inspector William Colarulo said the thieves have struck 10 times since the beginning of the year and have made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Penn honors architect

The University of Pennsylvania School of Design has conferred its Medal of Achievement on architect A. Eugene Kohn, founder and chairman of the architectural firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. *

-Staff and wire report