Thugs swipe $3,800 in cancer-cure donations at Liberty Place

A pair of gutless punks saw fit to steal thousands of dollars yesterday from two breast-cancer survivors who were raising funds for other cancer patients.

The theft occurred about 1:45 p.m. inside the Shops at Liberty Place, where the two volunteers were manning a table for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said Detective Anthony Anderson, of Central Detectives.

Surveillance footage shows the cold-hearted crooks loitering close to the table, which was set up just beyond the doors of the entrance at 16th and Chestnut streets, Anderson said.

One man then held open a door while his cohort walked over to the table and grabbed a box holding the $3,800 in donations the women had collected throughout the day. Both fled on foot, Anderson said.

The surveillance tapes don't show clear images of the crooks' faces, but both appear to be black men in their late 20s, he said.

One wore a gray hoodie and blue jeans, while the other wore a dark zippered jacket and dark pants. Anderson said tipsters can call 215-686-3093.

News of the theft shocked Komen officials, said Elaine Grobman, the executive director of the Philadelphia affiliate of Komen for the Cure.

"My first thought was, 'Are the volunteers OK?' These women have families and are breast-cancer survivors," Grobman said.

"Then you get really angry. The loss of that money affects thousands of women who can have mammographies and treatment."

The volunteers were also registering people for the May 10 Race for the Cure. Grobman said that registration drives will be held Saturday at various Dick's Sporting Goods stores in Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware. *