Robber's Lament: "I'm sorry ma'am. I have a son"

(CBS) PHILADELPHIA - One of at least five people robbed in a matter of hours on or near Philadelphia's busy Broad Street says the assailant told him, "I'm sorry ma'am. I have son," according to CBS Philly.

Police are issuing an alert after a rash of robberies in a recent seven-hour crime spree.

A 14-year-old victim told the station that the assailant told him, "Just letting you know this is a stick up."

A 28-year-old woman spoke of her encounter with the robber: "Give him my bag and my phone or he was going to shoot me."

The first incident, according to the victim, happened around 10 p.m. Monday.

"He was on his bike behind me and he said, 'Excuse me, can I ask you a question', and I just turned around and I saw him and kept walking."

But CBS Philly reports the suspect then threatened to harm her and got away with her wallet.

Another victim described his run-inwith the robber this way: "He punched me in the face and then pulled out I'd like to say a type of Glock, it was silver."

The suspect's spree reportedly ended around 5 a.m. Tuesday.

"The weird thing was, he turned around and apologized. He said, 'I'm sorry ma'am. I have a son," and rode away," recalled the bandit's first victim.

Those targeted described the suspect as a black male in his 20s, 5'8"-6' tall with a muscular build and a beard. Police say officers in the area have been put on alert and investigators from South Detectives are actively searching for the suspect.