Crime & Safety

2 Arrested in Swiss Farms Robberies, Police Say

A man and woman, from Upper Darby, are charged with multiple armed robberies throughout Delaware County, police say.

A robbery at the Swiss Farms on West Chester Pike in Broomall Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of two Upper Darby residents who police say are connected to several armed robberies in Delaware County. 

Charles E. Kenney, 29, and Jennifer Ciarrocchi, 33, were arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy and related offenses Wednesday afternoon, Marple Township Police Lieutenant Matthew Richter said. 

At about 7:38 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to the Broomall Swiss Farms for a report of a robbery, Richter said.

Marple Police obtained surveillance video from Swiss Farms as well as video from nearby 7-Eleven and were able to identify the suspects, Richter said.

On the 7-Eleven video, a dark-colored vehicle is seen entering the 7-Eleven parking lot and a woman heads inside the store while a man stands outside the vehicle, smoking and looking in the direction of Swiss Farms, Richter said.

The man then walks to Swiss Farms and taps on the closed door, Richter said, Swiss Farm employees had been instructed to keep the doors closed due to the recent rash of robberies. 

The man shows the two 18-year-old Swiss Farm employees money, as if he is attempting to make a purchase, and the employee opens the door, Richter said.

The man then demanded money and reached into the cash register and stole $650, Richter said, he then fled back to the car parked at 7-Eleven and the man and woman drove away.

Tuesday's robbery was Kenney's eighth alleged robbery, according to the Delaware County Daily Times

In recent weeks, seven stores in Upper Darby, Haverford and Springfield were robbed within 18 days including three Swiss Farms, CVS, Hollywood Tans, Utopia Salon and Subway Sandwich Shop, according to the Delco Daily Times

On Tuesday, Marple Police sent the surrounding police departments images of the suspects and the suspected vehicle and police were able to identify Kenney and Ciarrocchi, Richter said.

At about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, the two were located at Motel 6 in Tinicum Township and arrested, Richter said.

Kenney and Ciarrocchi are known to law enforcement officials and were arrested in connection with a retail theft at Home Depot in Broomall in September, Richter said.

"They graduated from retail theft to robbery," Richter said.

Kenney and Ciarrocchi were likely committing the robberies to feed an alleged drug habit, Richter said.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood told philly.com that Kenney and Ciarrocchi were "major heroin addicts."

Richter said no weapon was visible in the Broomall Swiss Farms robbery however Kenney used a gun and a knife in two of the other robberies, Richter said.

"They are looking at lengthy jail time if they're convicted," Richter said.


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