Police Investigate Smash-And-Grab At Macy's, Believe Getaway Car Same As Boyds Incident
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police are investigating a smash and grab incident at a Macy's in Northeast Philadelphia.
Police connected this incident to a similar smash and grab that took place in Center City earlier this week, but they say the getaway car used in both is also linked to a third crime.
Authorities say it happened just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Roosevelt Mall on Cottman Avenue.
Police say the suspects used a hammer to take watches. Many customers inside of the Macy's store initially thought shots had been fired inside, but police say that was actually the sound of the hammer.
"Once they break it, all three reach into the counter, steal watches and then flew out of the building," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
No one was hurt, but the three male suspects did get away with 14 watches valued at a total of $16,000.
The getaway car was described as a silver Mercedes Benz sedan, the same model as the one that fled early Tuesday after a smash and grab incident at the Boyds in Center City.
Authorities say the first suspect was wearing a black/grey hoodie, sweat pants, and black Nike sneakers. The second suspect was wearing a red and black hoodie and black pants, and the third suspect was wearing a grey hoodie, black pants and grey sneakers.
Suspects can be seen in surveillance video outside of Boyds, using a different car to smash through the glass window, then entering.
The license plate there differed from today, but "it was only off by one digit," Small said.
Police believe a witness may have simply misread.
Authorities are now looking for Pennsylvania license plate HVA3741, which has been traced to a third similar incident outside the city. The tag does not trace back to a name, so it's likely a fake.
Police say with good witnesses and good surveillance captured the incidents at Boyds as well as Macy's, and arrests are imminent.
"These individuals are definitely getting sloppy," Small said.
Authorities say one suspect dropped a bag while fleeing. They are attempting to extract DNA evidence or fingerprints from that bag.
