Suspect sought in hotel robberies in Philadelphia, Delco

Police are looking for the man responsible for a series of armed robberies at hotels in Philadelphia and Tinicum Township this month.

Philadelphia police said the same suspect is believed to be behind seven incidents - all but one at hotels located near the Philadelphia International Airport - between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23.

The crime spree began, police said, with two robberies a block apart near the airport on Dec. 20.

Police said the suspect, driving a black Mercedes Benz with tinted windows, asked two men standing outside the Marriott at 8900 Bartram Ave. shortly before noon if there were any rooms available.

When the victims said they didn't know, the armed assailant got out of the car, ordered the men to the ground and took wallets, cell phones, keys and cash from their pockets before fleeing.

Then, at 6:35 p.m., he entered the Extended Stay America at 9000 Bartram Ave., jumped over the front counter and pointed a handgun at an employee, police said.

The robber took the worker's purse and fled.

The next day, the bandit hit two more hotels, both also near the airport, police said.

He first tried unsuccessfully to enter the Microtel Inn and Suites at 8840 Bartram Ave. through a locked door at 12:10 a.m. Twenty minutes later, he robbed the Quality Inn at 600 Governor Printz Blvd. in Tinicum Township, authorities said.

And on Dec. 23, the assailant was linked to three more robberies that occurred within an hour and a half.

First, police say, he brandished a handgun and demanded money from workers at the North American Motor Lodge, located at 4444 N. City Ave. in Wynnefield Heights. With the employees on the floor, he took money from the cash register, cell phones and pocket book, police said.

But when the robber walked toward the door, a witness confronted and tried to stop him. The witness chased after him, and the suspect fired his gun twice, police said.

No injuries were reported.

The same afternoon, the assailant struck again at the sites of two previous incidents, police said. He robbed the Quality Inn at 600 Governor Printz Blvd. and then again robbed the Microtel Inn and Suites, pushing an employee into a rear office while demanding money at gunpoint.

Police described the suspect as a black man between the ages of 25 and 35, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and 185 pounds with a thin build.

In some of the cases, he has worn a bright yellow construction-style vest with the letters "PWD" on the front and camouflage pants. In others, he has worn a dark-colored hooded jacket and blue jeans.

He has disguised his face with a black mask and sunglasses. The suspect has been seen driving a newer-model silver Honda Accord, police said.

Anyone with information can call police at 215-686-8477 (TIPS) or send a text message to 773847 (PPDTIP).