A task force of Harrisburg city detectives and
officers was formed last week to focus solely on robberies, including a
string of robberies that occurred throughout the city this past
weekend. While the focus is on the robberies, a few of the
investigators have noted unusual graffiti showing up near the same
places as the robberies.
“We’re not sure if
they’re related to the cases, but they don’t seem to match
any of the other usual messages. We’ve got a few leads on the
robberies and only one regarding the spray-painted messages and we’ll
see if there’s any connection here,” spokesman Jimmy Doyle
told reporters this morning.
Although police wouldn’t
elaborate, eyewitnesses in the area have stated that each message was
signed “SF” and included phrases like, “Revenge for
Yellow Mama,” “Pastor Butler will Rise Again,” and “You’ll
All Get What Motley Got.” A Google search by our news team shows
a Pastor Richard Butler founded the Aryan Nation White Supremacist
Group.
When asked about the possibility
of a connection to such groups, Mayor Stephen R. Reed had this to say, “we
don’t speculate on investigations or conspiracy theories, we’re
going to track down all leads and welcome the public to assist us if
they have any information.”
Mayor Reed said task force
members have been detached from normal investigative and street duties
to focus on the robberies and finding those who committed them, instead
of being distracted by the many other types of calls to which police
respond.
The task force will concentrate
on repeat offenders who, the mayor said, "account for a
disproportionately high percentage of overall crime.
"We are repeatedly rearresting the same individuals for continuous
criminal behavior. It is quite common for us to arrest persons who are
out on bail on previous charges already filed by the city against
them," Reed said. "Left to run the streets, they continue
their behavior. They need high bail and stiffer penalties. I have no
illusion that jail or prison rehabilitates most offenders but we do
know with certainty that when repeat offenders are locked up, the crime
rate goes down."
Among its first cases, the task
force is investigating these nine robberies committed since Friday
morning. Police don't know yet if these robberies are related. </
Larger text
Smaller text
