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A West Philadelphian, who asked a man for a light in Newbold before robbing the man, was arrested shortly after the crime Sunday.
Gerald Harrod, 34, asked a 47-year-old man for a lighter on the 1700 block of Federal Street at 5:30 p.m. before striking him in the face and taking $17 from his front right pocket, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The man fled south on 17th Street.
The victim flagged down police, who surveyed the area and stopped Harrod on the 1400 block of South 19th Street, Tolliver said, and charged him with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, robbery and theft — unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
Harrod served time after pleading guilty to receiving stolen property in 1997, according to court records He also was found guilty for possession on a few occasions.
Contact Staff Writer Amanda Snyder at [email protected] or ext. 117.
