Armed bandits invade water ice shop owner’s home

A water ice shop owner who had just closed his store, was approached by two men early this morning as he entered the front door of his Philadelphia home, then robbed after being forced inside, police said.

The 31-year-old victim, whose business is on West Chester Pike in Upper Darby, initially gave the bandits $420. But they forced him to a safe, which he apparently opened and gave them additional money. Police would not verify that amount, but initial reports put it in the thousands of dollars.

Police say the victim left his shop by car about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday and was home on Morse Street, in the city's Wynnfield section, by 1:15 a.m. There, he was confronted by a gun-wielding black male, about 6'1" and weighing between 240 and 260 pounds. The robber was with a second black male, described as about 5'4" with medium complex and wearing a black hoodie and jeans.

No one was injured in the robbery.