Allentown 15 Are Robbed Of $8,400, Jewelry And Credit Cards During Poker Game

About 15 people were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning during a clandestine poker game inside a warehouse on Allentown's east side, police said.

Three men made off with car keys, jewelry, credit cards, cell phones and about $8,400 in cash, said Allentown police Lt. Daryl Hendricks. One man hurt his knee when he fell as he and two other near-victims ran from the robbery scene, Hendricks said.

Hendricks said he had no specifics on the poker game itself.

About 2:25 a.m., Gaby Safi of Allentown flagged down a police officer at Ridge and Tilghman streets, and said three men had just robbed several people in a warehouse at 1526 E. Pennsylvania St., Hendricks said.

Safi told the officer the men held up the warehouse while Safi was playing pool inside, Hendricks said.

Then the officer met up with Majed Obied of Shelton, Conn., Taleh Dayoub of Allentown, and Tarek Dayoub of Bethlehem at Congress and Maxwell streets, Hendricks said.

They said they went to the warehouse to join in a poker game when a man opened the door, pointed a gun at them and demanded they come in, Hendricks said.

The three said they refused to go inside and instead ran, Hendricks said. Obied fell and injured his knee as they ran, Hendricks said, adding he had no information on the extent of Obied's injury.

The police officer went to the warehouse on Pennsylvania Street and saw several poker tables and about 15 people inside, Hendricks said. He said the officer learned that three men entered the warehouse carrying guns and ordered everyone to the floor.

The three men robbed several people, put the loot in a black bag and left within 5 minutes of going inside, Hendricks said.

News Added: 29 May, 2006

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