Videos released of robbery suspects

Philadelphia police are asking for the public's help to identify suspects in two unrelated cases that have raised concerns because the actions of the robbers were so brazen.

Yesterday, police released surveillance videos of both robberies, including one that shows a clerk fighting with the bandit before hopping over the counter to run after him.

In the first case, about 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 27, a man entered the Sunoco store at 2750 Aramingo Ave. in Kensington.

He handed the cashier a dollar to purchase a pretzel as the two of them chatted for a few seconds. As the cashier opened the register, the man reached over the counter to grab the cash.

The cashier put up a fight, grabbing the register back and bracing himself against the counter with his foot. The cash drawer fell to the floor and the robber, who started to flee, turned back and grabbed an undisclosed amount of money before he fled.

The cashier jumped over the counter and briefly chased the robber.

In the second case, also in Kensington, two men entered Jerry's Ladies Fashion at 3251 N. Front St. about 6 p.m. Dec. 6 and casually strolled through the aisles.

One man pulled a large-caliber handgun, ordered two employees and two customers to the rear of the store, and bound them with duct tape, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman.

More than $4,000 was stolen, along with the store owner's .380-caliber pistol.

"These men are armed and dangerous, and they at least have two guns that we know of at this point," Vanore said.

Anyone with information about either case is asked to call East Detective Division at 215-686-3243.