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Man accused of several knifepoint robberies in Delaware County

Published  June 1, 2018 5:25pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WTXF) - Police say they have made an arrest in connection with several knifepoint robberies in Delaware County.

Mark Sokmen has owned the Health Plus Pharmacy in Upper Darby for 10 years. On Thursday, police say a man walked in, pulled out a big knife and robbed the place.

"Whatever we earn honestly is gone in a minute basically," Sokmen told FOX 29 Friday. "Presented a knife to the pharmacist and said it was a stick up, took the money and asked her to move to the pharmacy, basically."

Now, police are calling 55-year-old Charles Anthony Edwards a one-man crime spree after they linked him to another robbery at an Upper Darby flower shop and potentially three more in Delaware County. He was arrested Thursday after a witness spotted him fleeing the pharmacy and told police. Upper Darby officers gave chase and arrested Edwards moments after the pharmacy robbery.

"We got a panic button. The cops got here very fast and they got him in very short time," Sokmen explained.

A woman, who didn't want to be identified, owns a flower shop where police say Edwards also pulled a knife during a recent noon time robbery said she was terrified.

"Knife is a big knife, white color handle, from a kitchen, big knife," the store owner said .

"He open my machine and take the money," the owner of this Clifton heights store told FOX 29.

The female store owner says a man matching Edwards description held up her business recently while her 9-year-old daughter was inside. He stole $400 from the cash register even after she showed him he was on surveillance cameras, according to police.

Meanwhile, Sokmen is glad no one got hurt and Edwards is behind bars.

"They chased him and they got him. It feels good," he said.

Sokmen thanked the GOod Samaritan witness for giving police a description of the robber's getaway vehicle. Superintendent Michael Chitwood says police here in Delaware county are now working together and comparing evidence trying to link Edwards to the other robberies.