Man who stole from cancer victim hit for armed robbery
UPPER CHICHESTER » A Lower Chichester man with an admitted drug problem, who last month expressed remorse after pleading guilty in Common Pleas Court to stealing $400 from his girlfriend’s cancerstricken grandmother, was back in district court Tuesday — this time for a preliminary hearing on charges of holding up a 7-Eleven with a handgun.
The theft at the 7-Eleven occurred late on Sept. 11, 2016 – two weeks before Michael Allison cashed a check he had stolen from his girlfriend’s 68-year-old grandmother.
Allison, 29, of the 1600 block of Huddle Avenue in Linwood, has been incarcerated at the county prison since his Nov. 5, 2016, arrest by Upper Darby police on charges in the bad check case. He entered a negotiated guilty plea in the check case on Feb. 13, telling Judge Anthony Scanlon, “I’m very sorry for what I did … I learned a lot during all of this and I don’t want to go back to who I used to be.” He was sentenced to time served to 23 months.
Allison was at Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division headquarters on Feb. 1 when he spoke to Upper Chichester Police Detective Christopher Jones and confessed to the 7-Eleven robbery, according to the probable cause affidavit in that case.
According to the affidavit, written by Jones, Upper Chichester police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven on the Conchester Highway for a robbery with a weapon that just occurred on Sept. 11 at 10:44 p.m.
A store employee told police he was cleaning behind the cash register area closer to the office when he was grabbed by a white man wearing all black clothing and a black mask.
“Give me all the money,” the robber announced, holding a gun in his right hand. The gunman then grabbed the employee and forced him over toward the cash register. At that point, the gunman put about 10 packs of Newport cigarettes, valued at $50, inside a black bag. When the employee opened the register, the gunman grabbed about $120 and then fled the store, in the direction of Bethel Avenue.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Jones obtained surveillance videos from 7-Eleven as well as surrounding businesses. Through video, Jones learned the suspect was driving a silver or gray Volvo S60. Video captured the vehicle traveling east on Route 322 and making a right onto Bethel Avenue. There, the vehicle stopped and an individual exited from the front passenger side. A short time later, the same individual is seen running back to the same area from where he was dropped off, using a cell phone. The individual is a white male with a medium build with dark, short hair and wearing all black clothing. Less than a minute later, a vehicle that appears to be similar to the one in question is seen on video traveling on Bethel Avenue, toward Route 322, then crossing over Route 322 to Cherry Tree Road.
According to the affidavit, Jones spotted a similar gray Volvo S60 while on patrol in the township on Jan. 30, 2017. The vehicle was registered to Allison – who also matched the description of the suspect in the robbery. Allison was already in police custody.
The Volvo, Jones said, “was on the list of vehicles” on his BOLO - be on the lookout - sheet.
When Jones spoke on Feb. 1 to Allison at CID headquarters about the 7-Eleven case, Allison confessed to the robbery and further admitted to having a drug problem, the affidavit states.
“I did what you know I did. I didn’t hurt anybody. I never had a gun … I want to get treatment and live my life again without drugs,” the affidavit quotes Allison as saying to Jones.
Mag ister ia l District Judge David R. Griffin held Allison for court on all charges in connection with the 7-Eleven case, according to online court records. Charges include robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats and simple assault. His formal arraignment is listed for April 26 at the Media courthouse.
Magisterial District Judge David R. Griffin held Allison for court on all charges in connection with the 7-Eleven case, according to online court records. Charges include robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats and simple assault. His formal arraignment is listed for April 26 at the Media courthouse.