January 12, 2016

A 53-year-old man was attacked, beaten and robbed by a large group of teenagers on Monday evening near 45th and Chester, according to police.

The man was walking in the area around 6 p.m. when he observed a group of teens (10 to 12 boys) yelling and acting irate. The man tried to avoid the group and started walking in the street along the bike lane. The teens then pulled the man back on the pavement and started punching him until he fell to the ground, according to a police report. The teens continued punching and kicking the man while he was on the ground until a witness, who was driving by, noticed the beating and began honking her car horn until the teens walked away.

After the teens left the area, the man noticed that his house keys, cell phone and iPod had been taken.

The witness drove the man to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where he was treated for pains to his head and legs, according to police.

The victim told police that he was unable to identify any of the teens involved in this incident. The area was checked for surveillance video, but none were found.

The victim’s phone and iPod are not equipped with a “Find me” app, so they couldn’t be tracked, according to police.

Taking into account the circumstances, police believe there is a small chance any of the teen suspects will be arrested. Police provided the following descriptions of the teens: 10 to 12 black males, 14 to 15 years of age, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, all had backpacks on.

UPDATE: Residents are invited to discuss crime in the area at monthly community meetings with police. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m. at Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore). There will also be an emergency meeting at the Bryant School at 60th and Cedar this Thursday (Jan. 14) at 6 p.m. to discuss the recent spike in violent crimes in West Philly.