3 arrested in armored truck robbery attempt in Philadelphia
BALA CYNWYD, Pa. -- The attempted robbery of an armored truck in Philadelphia led to a police chase and lockdown of a local community on Friday.
Police ultimately took three suspects into custody.
It all began near a Target store just before lunchtime.
Authorities were monitoring two men in a white Honda believed to be preparing to rob an armored truck when the situation escalated and the suspects fled into the Bala Cynwyd section of Lower Merion Township.
They eventually dumped the vehicle and one suspect fled on foot while the other reportedly called for a ride.
Emily Zagar was out walking her dog when she got a text. She ran home and locked her doors, worried about her toddler and her other son locked down at school.
"He said, 'There's a SWAT team in your yard. Are you okay?'" she recalled.
"The cops, the K-9 dogs, the drones, the helicopters were everywhere. It was really scary," said Zagar.
Community members were urged to shelter in place as a manhunt began.
Also arrested was the person that one on the suspects called to pick him up, police say.
Investigators say two handguns and a long gun were found inside the car.
The FBI has been investigating a string of armored truck robberies in Philadelphia and Cheltenham that occurred between June 26 and August 12 of this year.
The agency reported four successful heists and one attempted robbery during that period. Between two and three suspects were involved in each of the incidents, investigators say.
In many cases, the suspects made off with both the driver's weapon and thousands of dollars.
Police say the three men caught on Friday were also responsible for a Loomis truck robbery outside an Aldi store on June 26 and an attempted Brinks truck robbery on July 15.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for information related to those cases.
In a statement released Friday, the FBI said, "Earlier today, the FBI responded to an alleged attempted robbery of an armored vehicle. The subjects are in custody."
No injuries were reported in connection with Friday's incident.
