Limerick Township Police arrested three 21-year-old men on Saturday night after being called for a robbery-in-progress at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets' Ultra Diamonds store.
According to a press release from Limerick police chief William Albany, the call came in at 7:48pm.
The caller said three black males wearing bandanas had come into the store, smashed a case with a hammer, and took approximately $64,000 in Rolex watches and jewelry, then fled.
Witnesses described them getting into a 4-door red Buick and driving in the direction of Route 422. Surrounding police departments were notified.
Upper Providence Township police attempted to stop the car on eastbound 422, but the car did not stop. A passenger threw a bag out of the car window while Upper Providence police were chasing the suspect car.
The car exited Route 422, with police still in pursuit, and drove through Valley Forge Park, then stopped in Phoenixville Borough.
The three suspects exited the car and fled on foot, but were stopped and detained after a short foot chase.
Police recovered the bag that had been thrown from the car and found the stolen watches and jewelry.
The three suspects were identified as Amin Shabazz, Brian M. Sheed and Willie Hawkins Smith, all 21 years old.
Amin Shabazz has a prior arrest for retail theft and was wanted on two failure-to-appear warrants in Bucks and Lancaster Counties.
Brian M. Sheed has a record of arrests for criminal trespass and corruption of minors.
Willie Hawkins Smith has three prior arrests on drug, firearms and receiving stolen property charges. Smith is also out on bail after being charged with armed robbery of a jewelry store in Evesham Township.
Mike
4:13 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Once again. These ghetto thugs continue to crawl out of the sewers of Philadelphia and bring their way of life to our area.
Darryl Braxton
2:04 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Read Matthew 7:1 about judging others. I live in the suburbs and their is filth and trash out here in the Burbs also. Only difference, the sub thugs go to the city and bring the drugs back out here.
truthsayer
5:31 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
The problem here lies in the failure of our criminal justice system. Each of these criminals had prior records, and were dealt with by an ineffective judicial system. Here is another example http://limerick.patch.com/articles/retail-theft-reveals-man-carrying-gun-marijuana . This criminal committed two offenses in the region, and was able to get out on bail. He is now a wanted fugitive, failing to show up for his trial.
Harsh penalties, an effective death penalty, and mandatory labor while incarcerated, would help to reduce the crime in this country, but the liberal mindsets want to coddle criminals. This is what you get.
Jr Bach
9:03 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Good thing they didn't build that crime haven of a casino. After all that would have taxed the Limerick PD. Oh wait the Outlets are doing that, Great move Limerick.
Dago Girl
11:12 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
The Outlets bring in that much more tax revenue for Limerick Township too. Get a clue, Jr Bach.
John C
11:36 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Dago,
Whether it be a casino or the outlets..... it would all bring the same end result...Crime and Money.
Dynamo47
8:14 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
I totally agree with you Mike and truthsayer. I did not want the outlets built in the first place as my concerns were that there would not be many local residents employed and that the majority of the employees would come from the city. My fear which is being realized is that with the city employees comes the city mindset and criminal element.
And this is just another in a long list of examples of our justice system to effectively prosecute criminals in this state. How many more people will be robbed or killed by repeat offenders released by liberal minded parole boards? We are just fortunate that we did not lose an officer considering that Willie Smith had prior firearm convictions.
Dago Girl
12:07 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Did you ever stop and think that the young people in our area just aren't as "hungry" and as willing to work in retail establishments as the young do from the city, that come from lower income families? I worked in Retail Mgmt for over 25 years; started in 10th grade. It is very difficult to recruit staff; particularly if high school/college kids just don't want to work for wages less than what older generations earn. Thus the reason why shore towns, etc started recruiting from Eastern European countries. The youth of this country are lazier than our generation; and demand MORE and MORE $ NOW. They definitely have a sense of propriety. We've already told our kids, when they get to high school, they are working if they want to buy a car (NOT given one) and therefore have to pay for their own auto insurance. Once you establish early in life, you must make it on your own, you get out and work wherever and as much as you can. Too many are handed everything on a silver platter.
UpLim
10:21 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Truthsayer & Dynamo hit the nail on the head. Nice job Limerick Twp. What in the world would possess a quiet, mostly rural community to vote to bring in PHILADELPHIA Premium Outlets to the area?? Build it and they will come --by way of SEPTA. This is NOT Philadelphia, however we are quickly assimilating into their accepted way of life.
John C
11:34 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
$$$$$$$, nothing else. Greed and lack of care for the community.
Willie
1:09 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
@ mike you sound like the most educated person on the blog got to give it to you damn what you study at Yale lol
Cathleen Bach
2:40 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
If the casino would have gone in, it would have been patrolled by the State Police. Instead, the outlets, which I admit, I do like more than I do a casino, however, the Outlets are patrolled by Limerick Police, who have enough to deal with. They do an amazing job, but this time of year through Christmas, they practically live at the Outlets.
Dago Girl
3:05 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
You have to understand, the increased revenue from the taxes generated from the outlets have implemented Limerick Twp's income. I am SURE the township's planning dept factored that in, when approving this mall. I would also bet the police force staffing has increased, as did the monies that the township receives.
UpLim
7:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The increased revenue from the outlets is negated by the increased operating cost of the police dept. to include increased staffing,benefits, overtime,benefits packages, vehicles and training just to name a few. Additionally, district court staffing workload has increased as well as the costs of prosecution for public defenders. Don't be too sure of anything except the likelihood of greed which imho was the true motivation behind the illustrious PHILADELPHIA PREMIUM outlets. Last I checked,19468 was NOT Philadelphia.
DBrax
2:14 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Crime happens all over. City youth go to the suburbs and steal while suburban youth go the City to get their drugs. Both make poor choices. Parents can't be with their children 24 hrs a day 7 days a week . Hopefully, they have instilled values, morals, and essential decision making criterion which they will utilize before making poor choices which ultimately have an everlasting impact on their present and future.