Suspects sought in laundromat assault, robbery in Upper Darby

UPPER DARBY, PA (WTXF) - Police in Upper Darby are looking for a two suspects in connection with the robbery and assault of a laundromat employee.

The incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. Monday morning on the 7100 block of Marshall Road.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood says a 39-year-old employee was vacuuming out lint from dryers when the masked man and woman entered the business. The man drew a gun, pointed it at the worker's head and wrestled her to the floor, according to police.

Security camera video shows the armed man dragging the worker into a boiler room where he rummages through her pockets, while the female accomplice rifles through the office, snatching more than $200 in cash and another $400 in quarters. Police say one point the coins spill all over the floor and the thief tries desperately to scoop them up. As a final nasty touch the thief grabs the victim's coat off a hook and wears it out the door, according to police.

The worker got out of the boiler room and called police once the thieves were gone.

"How they didn't kill that lady is beyond me," said Chitwood. "She's a very, very lucky lady."

That victim was too frightened to talk to reporters. The owner of the laundromat did not want to talk on camera for fear of HIS safety. He says his father opened the coin-op laundromat a dozen years ago and that there had never been a violent incident of any kind until now. The early morning attack has regular customers considering changing their routines.

"I leave my laundry and I come back in the morning to get it," explained Khalid Alvi. "It's very scary thing to now change my schedule. I have to come in in the daytime not in the morning again."

He won't come here after dark. "No," he said. "I'm scared now."

Chitwood says he believes the crooks are locals who "cased" the businessman before going in. Police are offering a reward of $2,500 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.