Philly businesses ransacked, burglarized during 7-month crime spree; suspects still sought

2 suspects wanted for 9 commercial burglaries in West Philly

Philadelphia police provided surveillance pictures of two people suspected of breaking into several businesses over the past six months.

PHILADELPHIA - At least nine Philadelphia businesses have been burglarized by the same suspects over the span of several months, and now police are asking for the public's help to identify them.

What we know:

All nine burglaries were carried out in West Philadelphia between November 2024 and May 2025:

• November 7, 2024: Cash stolen as cash register, ATM and lottery machines damaged at Pine Street Mini Market
• December 19, 2024: $800 stolen from cash box and unknown amount taken from ATM at EZ Laundry on Market Street
• January 31: $5,000 from ATM, $2,000 from cash register and $2,000 in merchandise stolen from Low Price Superstore on Market Street
• March 23: Large hole cut, wires pulled, cameras ripped from walls, while $100 from cash drawer, unknown amount from safe and tools stolen from Extra Space Storage on Sansom Street
• March 26: $460 in cash and three bottles of Hennessy stolen and $300 in damage done to Jessie's place on 54th Street
• April 8: $720 from cash register and unknown amount stolen from ATM after an office was ransacked at Afor Market on Market Street
• April 22: $3,610 from ATM and $300 from drawer stolen Philly Laundry on Walnut Street
• April 29: $9,625 in cash and $1,700 in liquor stolen with $6,500 in damage at Bleu B Soul on Lancaster Avenue
• May 17: $800 from cash register, $4,000 from ATM, $13,000 in store products and $800 in petty cash stolen, along with $5,000 in damage, from Beauty Point on Lancaster Avenue

Police say the suspects would break into each business, often using large holes, then cut power to the security system before ransacking the business and pouring bleach as they fled.

Surveillance video was also recovered, capturing the suspects in the act several times, and leading police to connect them to all nine burglaries.

What they're saying:

"It's crazy. It is very crazy," said Tamika Edwards. She  works at Beauty Point Hair Store on the 5600 block of Lancaster Avenue in West Philly. 

The store says the burglars created their own way inside from the roof of the shopping center.

 "There was a hole in the ceiling where actually burglars did come in the store and rob," she said.

 A surveillance video shows the ceiling crashing down inside the store as the suspects literally drop in.

"The ATM they took that. All the money that was in it. They took money out of the register. They broke one of the registers because one was closed. So the one closed, they broke that and took money out," said Edwards who says they also stole beauty supplies. 

It happened around 4:30 in the morning of May 17th. "They hit a lot of places," she said.

Of the nine break-ins so far, it included Bleu Brook Soul back in April, which is a few doors down from the beauty store.

"They busted up ATMs, they busted up registers and took a bunch of inventory. It is an inconvenience," said Gregory Thornton who says the burglars broke a lock on the back door of the bar and restaurant getting away with money and alcohol.

"We were fortunate that we were able to put it back together very quickly. Even dealing with insurance premiums going up. It is a lot," said Thornton.

 Police say they hit mini-marts, discount stores, a storage place, bars and a laundry business.

Almost all the incidents involved breaking into in-store ATMs, cash registers and stealing inventory. Thornton says it is a real hardship for business owners.

 "It's very disturbing because it's a lot of people getting hurt that doesn't have the  means to put their businesses back together," he said.