Video recently shared by the Philadelphia Police Department shows the moments when a mother and daughter were mugged at gunpoint early this morning.
The incident happened just after 6:15 a.m. on September 19 in the northeastern part of the city.
In a press release sent to , police describe the unidentified suspect as a black teenage male and the victims as a 48-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter. Officials also said the investigation is “ongoing.”
The video shows the woman and her daughter on their way to the day when a man, previously seen riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, assaulted the couple.
The suspect appears to be hiding behind another car in the driveway before finally sneaking up on the mother and daughter with a gun.
One of the two victims yells “don’t shoot” as he starts running towards the women.
Video released by the Philadelphia Police Department shows the suspect approaching the mother and her daughter while they are near their vehicle
After chasing the young girl into the street, the suspect turns his attention to the mother and points the gun at her while moving to the driver’s side of the vehicle
After the mother backed out of her car after the suspect pointed his gun, he approached the driver’s door
He first approaches the teenager as she tried to get into the passenger side of the vehicle. The girl backs away in fear and, having dropped her backpack on the ground, quickly runs away.
On the other side of the vehicle, the mother appears to have made eye contact with the suspect, who had begun chasing after the girl.
The woman drops her purse as the suspect approaches her.
She backs away and yells, “Take what you want” as he grabs her purse and jumps into the driver’s seat of her 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe.
The video ends with a request from police asking anyone who knows or recognizes the suspect to come forward.
At one point in the video, the victims can be heard screaming and begging the suspect.
The 48-year-old was able to locate her vehicle using a Smartlink assistance feature and the car was later recovered in the 2000 block of Griffith Street.
The suspect picks up the woman’s purse from the ground while still pointing the gun at her
Video released by police shows the suspect riding around on a bicycle just before kidnapping the two victims
Philadelphia Police Inspector Charles Layton told 6 ABC that the woman used the remote start feature to start her car and that her daughter was the first to walk to the vehicle.
Officials warn motorists of the possible increase in car thefts during the fall and winter months when more people use their cars’ remote start feature.
Another police officer, Capt. John Ryan, spoke to FOX Philadelphia and said the suspect “was lying in wait.”
Fortunately, the two victims were not injured in the incident.
Layton said incidents like this in suburban areas, while not all that common at the moment, are becoming more of a concern.
Eventually, the suspect gets into the vehicle and drives away, leaving the woman and her daughter without a car
“The suburban-style areas are areas that are being targeted because people are getting complacent. They think, “Well, this is my driveway, this isn’t going to happen in my driveway,” Layton said.
No arrests were made in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police Department officers at 215-686-8477. All tips are confidential.
According to data shared by 6 ABC in early September, there have been nearly 1,000 carjacking incidents in Philadelphia since the beginning of the year.
That number is up significantly from all of 2021, which saw a total of 847 thefts recorded.
Law enforcement officers have simple tips that could keep you from becoming a victim.
Instead of sitting around in your car after you get in, drive straight away. If you park, get out immediately.
Most importantly, when you’re in a carjacking situation, don’t fight.
“If anyone approaches you with a gun, at that point, just give them the keys. It’s not worth your life for the car,” Layton said.