Philadelphia police have identified a suspect wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies in Center City in which masked offenders targeted people carrying expensive watches and jewelry.
Investigators have obtained an arrest warrant for Shakur Nichols, whom police identified as one of the suspects seen in surveillance footage from a robbery on the 1200 block of Sansom Street. Police released additional video and images on September 21 as they asked the public for help locating him.
The Sansom Street robbery happened around 2:23 a.m. on August 28. Police said the victim was walking east on Sansom Street when two masked men got out of a dark-colored sedan. One allegedly carried an AR-15-style rifle while the other had a handgun.
The suspects allegedly took the victim’s jewelry and watch before leaving in the vehicle. Police said the surveillance footage shows the rifle being used at close range while the victim’s watch was taken.
Investigators say the robbery fits a broader pattern involving expensive watches, gold chains and other high-value jewelry. In the Sansom Street case, police said a diamond-encrusted watch worth about $2,500 and two gold chains valued at roughly $7,000 each were taken.
The August 28 incident was not the only recent Center City robbery involving a rifle-style weapon.
Earlier in August, police investigated another robbery near the 1500 block of Locust Street. Three men were confronted by several masked suspects around 3 a.m., and investigators said one suspect appeared to be carrying an AR-15-style rifle. One of the victims was struck in the face with a handgun after resisting, according to police. The suspects reportedly took phones, watches, wallets, cash and other personal belongings.
Another robbery occurred on August 28 involving two masked men who allegedly approached a 23-year-old man and two friends as they were returning home. Police said the suspects took two gold chains and demanded the victim’s silver diamond watch before fleeing in a sedan. No injuries were reported in that incident.
Police are also examining whether stolen vehicles were used in the robbery pattern. Investigators previously recovered at least one vehicle believed to have been connected to one of the incidents and have been reviewing surveillance footage for additional evidence.
Authorities have not said that every recent robbery is definitively connected, and the investigation remains active. The identification of Nichols means police are now seeking his whereabouts while continuing to investigate the other people involved.
Anyone who has information about Nichols or the robberies is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093 or 215-686-3094. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Police advise the public not to approach anyone they believe may be one of the suspects and to call 911 instead.
