Robbery Arrest

On January 10, 2014, a 69 year old male employee was the only person inside the Sunoco Mini-Mart Gas Station located at 209 Township Line Road in the Elkins Park Section of Abington Township. At approximately 4:15 AM, a man entered the store; pointed a small, black, semi-auto type handgun at the face of the employee and said “get the money!” The suspect pushed the gun into the employee and forced him behind the counter and made him open the register. The suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and then threatened to shoot the employee if he didn’t open the safe.

The employee said he didn’t have the combination and the suspect produced a stun gun type of device and made it spark. The suspect told the clerk “you’re gonna either get shot or get tasered!” (if he didn’t open the safe). The suspect then took approximately 10 packs of cigarettes, the keys to the store, and fled in what was later determined to be a small, white vehicle.

At 8:44 AM on January 10, 2014, Abington Police responded to an “intoxicated person” at the Lukoil Mini-Mart Gas Station at 1450 Old York Road in Abington. As the Officer entered the parking lot, a white Chevrolet Sonic bearing New Jersey Registration drove out of the lot. The Officer attempted to stop the Sonic but it accelerated and drove extremely recklessly, on the wrong side of the road, through stop signs and a steady red traffic signal, forcing the officer to abandon the pursuit. A computer check showed that the Sonic had been stolen earlier in the morning from Philadelphia and a comparison of surveillance videos showed that it was the same car and the same suspect who had robbed the Sunoco.

The stolen Sonic was abandoned in the Glenside section of Cheltenham Township. Found inside the Sonic were the keys which were stolen from the Sunoco. Later in the morning Cheltenham Police discovered a burglary where a home was entered and a pocketbook was stolen and another vehicle was stolen in close proximity to where the Sonic was recovered.

Abington Police positively identified 29 year old Anthony J. ROBERTS of Hasbrook Avenue in Philadelphia as the suspect in these crimes. ROBERTS was charged in an arrest warrant with robbery, theft, terroristic threats, weapons offenses and other related offenses. On January 13, 2014, ROBERTS was taken into custody by his parole officer and turned over to Abington Police. He was arraigned and is currently in custody in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

 

Approved for Release by:  Deputy Chief John A. Livingood