ABC27 WHTM Harrisburg police investigate 7 armed robberies

Harrisburg police investigate 7 armed robberies

Police in Harrisburg said they are investigating seven armed robberies that occurred over the weekend, including one incident in which two victims were beaten with boards and tree branches.

Witnesses reported four males repeatedly struck the victims Friday evening in the 1200 block of Reese Street, according to city police.

Both men were taken to a hospital for treatment of bruises and scrapes to the heads and faces, and one may have a broken jaw, police said.

The robbers took a small amount of cash and a cell phone.

In another robbery reported Friday night, an 18-year-old said he robbed at gunpoint by two boys in ski masks who were about 14 to 16 years old. They took his cell phone and $10 cash, police said.

Four more armed robberies were reported Saturday; the first shortly after midnight at N. 4th and Harris streets.

Police said the 19-year-old Midtown victim reported six robbers jumped out of a black or dark colored Nissan, one with a shotgun and another with a handgun, before hitting him on the head with the pistol and taking his cell phone, tablet computer and $2 in cash.

About an hour later, three robbers with bandannas covering their faces robbed a 31-year-old Midtown man at gunpoint in the area of N. 3rd and Kelker streets, taking a an expensive cell phone and about $400, police said.

In two incidents Saturday night, one man reported he was hit over the head and robbed while walking home in the 100 block of Crooked Street. Another said three boys about 16-to-18 years old walked onto his porch in the 1500 block of Swatara Street and demanded his valuables at gunpoint, but fled with nothing after he pushed one of them and ran into his home, according to police.

Police are seeking four people in the seventh incident Sunday night; a home invasion robbery in the first block of N. 16th Street.

The four robbers had a shotgun and a handgun when they robbed one of the residents of his identification cards, police said.

They also searched a bedroom, but apparently didn't find what they were looking for, police said.

None of the residents were harmed.