Armed Robbery at Chestnut Hill Post Office

An armed robbery brought Philadelphia Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service to the Chestnut Hill Post Office, 8227 Germantown Avenue, Wednesday afternoon.

According to Reggie Wade, a U.S. Postal Inspector with the Philadelphia Division, two masked men entered the post office at approximately 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. At least one of the men was armed, Wade said.

A gun was pointed at the clerk as the men jumped the counter, and took money from the register. ABC reported that the men made off with about $600 and fled in a white car.

No further details about the robbery could be released, Wade said, as the incident is still in the early stages of investigation. The post office was closed for the investigation.

“It will stay closed until the crime scene is processed and we get all the fingerprints and evidence we can. Then it will open for business,” Wade said.

Only a handful of post office robberies happen each year, according to Wade, and there is a high conviction rate when they do. If the two men who robbed the Chestnut Hill Post Office are caught, they will face federal charges, up to 25 years in prison.

Wade said he did not know if there were any customers in the post office at the time of the robbery.

"If there was one, it was one too many," Wade said.

“We consider this a priority. We are very concerned with the safety of our employees and customers. They have to be caught and they will be caught,” he added.

There was a surveillance camera in the office, according to Wade, and the video is being reviewed. Once the film is processed, Wade said he hopes to release an image of the two men.

Check back at Chestnut Hill Patch as more information is released about the robbery.