Armed suspects attempted to rob an armored truck in Northeast Philadelphia, marking the fourth such incident in less than a month.

In a notable incident on Tuesday morning, an attempted robbery of a Brinks armored vehicle was thwarted when an employee discharged his firearm in self-defense. The event, which took place around 11:30 a.m. on the 8200 block of Castor Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, is part of an unsettling trend involving armed criminals targeting armored trucks in the vicinity.

According to police reports, the Brinks employee was making a routine delivery when two assailants armed with guns confronted him and demanded the funds. In a rapid response, the employee fired at the intruders, prompting them to flee the scene in a Nissan vehicle. Authorities recovered eight spent shell casings from the location, indicating a serious escalation in the attempted robbery. Fortunately, the employee was unharmed, and no other injuries have been reported as of late Tuesday afternoon.

This incident follows another armed robbery that occurred on June 26 in which two gunmen, also in a Nissan, ambushed a Loomis truck driver at an Aldi store on the 5200 block of Whitaker Avenue around 3:15 p.m. During that encounter, the assailants stole the driver’s firearm and approximately ,000 in cash before fleeing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicated that it was collaborating with the Philadelphia Police Department in the investigation of that case.

Police sources noted that there have been several other robberies targeting armored trucks in recent weeks. For instance, on June 21, just before 8 a.m., two masked men robbed a Brinks vehicle parked at a Home Depot at the intersection of Castor Avenue and Thompson Street. The robbers escaped in a black Hyundai. Additionally, on July 2, an armed robbery occurred at a shopping center on the 8000 block of Frankford Avenue, where three assailants, one equipped with an AR-style rifle, managed to steal the employee’s weapon and an undisclosed amount of cash, fleeing the scene in a silver 2022 Honda Accord.

Despite these incidents raising concerns among local law enforcement and community members, a spokesperson for Brinks declined to provide comments, directing inquiries to law enforcement agencies. As the investigation into these incidents continues, the authorities are urging anyone with information about the armed robberies to come forward to assist in apprehending those responsible.

Media News Source reports a growing unease among citizens as these incidents highlight the increasingly brazen nature of crimes targeting armored vehicles, prompting discussions on security measures and community safety protocols.