Two thieves tried to steal change from a clothes dryer and almost caused a disaster in a Rhawnhurst apartment building on June 26, according to police.
A surveillance camera filmed the men in the laundry room at 1844 Solly Ave. as they attempted to break open the coin slot and tipped the dryer, causing the gas line to burst. The crooks fled in an unknown direction as the building filled with gas. A short time later, the Philadelphia Fire Department and Philadelphia Gas Works responded to emergency calls, neutralized the threat and repaired the gas line.
The thieves were described as black, 20 years old and bearded. One has a heavy build and wore a T-shirt, shorts and backpack. The other has a thin build and wore a baseball cap with a white logo on the brim, along with a hoodie and shorts. Visit the Philadelphia Police channel on YouTube.com to view the surveillance video. Call 215-686-TIPS or text to PPDTIP to report information. ••