Three men accused of robbing over a dozen businesses in the Philadelphia area over a two-month span are now in police custody.
Jian Chen, 27, Patrick Rowe, 29, and Corey Lockhart, 25, are all charged with committing 14 robberies at various convenience stores and restaurants, including a Wawa and several 7-Eleven locations, between August 16 and October 10.
On Friday at 2:23 a.m., a 15th District Officer was on patrol on the 5700 block of Harbison Avenue when he spotted a Silver 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse which matched the description of the car used in the robberies. The officer also said he spotted a man inside the car, later identified as Rowe, who matched the description of one of the suspects.
Officers stopped the vehicle and recovered a silver AMT .45cal handgun from the backseat of the car, a metal bb-gun, black velcro half mask, black hooded sweatshirt and a black scarf, according to investigators.
Police then served search warrants at the homes of the three suspects. Investigators said they recovered two rifles, two silver handguns and a ballistic vest from Chen's home on the 3500 block of Aldine Street and ammunition from inside Lockhart's home on the 6300 block of Algard Street.
Chen and Rowe were charged with 13 of the 14 robberies while Lockhart was charged with violation of the uniform firearms act.
