ATM

Armored Truck Guards Shoot at ‘Brazen' Robbers During University City Heist, Police Say

An armored truck was making a delivery to an ATM on Market Street in University City Thursday morning when two men grabbed bags of cash

What to Know

  • An armored car was making a delivery to an ATM on Market Street in University City Thursday morning when 2 masked men robbed him.
  • The guard and his co-worker shot at the robbers as they got away, Philadelphia police said.
  • Police Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said that everyone is "very, very lucky" that no one was hurt.

Two armored truck guards fired at two robbers during a morning heist that had people running from a crowded intersection in Philadelphia’s University City Thursday.

Two men wearing dark clothing, ski masks and gloves, one carrying a rifle, targeted a Garda worker making a delivery to an ATM along Market Street near 36th Street around 10 a.m., Philadelphia police said.

The robbers grabbed bags of cash, police said.

A guard who stayed by the truck and the guard making the delivery both fired at the suspects, police said. One suspect ran off east on Market Street while the other hopped into a maroon or red Chevy Trailblazer that another person drove off north on 36th Street.

The men dropped both bags of money, police said. Along with one of the money bags, police found a handgun and a rifle clip containing 40 to 50 rounds of ammunition.

It was unclear if the robbers fired their weapons during what Police Chief Inspector Frank Vanore called a "calculated" heist.

People ran from the commotion.

No injuries were reported. Investigators said they checked local hospitals, but no gunshot victims turned up.

Vanore said that everyone is "very, very lucky" that no one was hurt. 

Vanore called the robbers "very brazen."

Drexel University sent an alert to students saying that police are searching for three suspects who should be considered armed and dangerous.

Investigators blocked off the immediate area through the early afternoon as they searched for clues.

Philly police and the FBI are looking over multiple surveillance video feeds, Vanore said.

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