ECSO: Two Robberies At Cantonment Tom Thumb Are Related (With Video)

August 4, 2016

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office now says they believe two different robberies at a Cantonment convenience store were committed by the same suspect.

The Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Woodbury Circle  was robbed on July 4 and again on July 29. In both robberies, the suspect walked behind the counter and took cash from the register without producing a weapon.

In the July 4 robbery, the black male opened the store’s door using a white cloth on his hand, walked around behind the counter an demanded cash. He did not produce or indicate that he had a weapon. He was wearing a gray and black ball cap, mostly black clothing and black tennis shoes.

In the second robbery on July 29, the suspect is seen in a black ball cap, dark pants, white t-shirt. and the same black tennis shoes.

The suspect was described as being about 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighing 150 pounds.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.

Surveillance video from both robberies is below.

Comments

12 Responses to “ECSO: Two Robberies At Cantonment Tom Thumb Are Related (With Video)”

  1. Tina S. on August 9th, 2016 11:49 pm

    Inside job? Please don’t blame the employees. Also, for not taking this dude down. Store policy as many has said the business wants no confrontation. Just go to work, do your job, give the robber the money and report it. Everyone remains safe that way, hopefully. This operation was so smooth, that the delivery man had no clue that a robbery was taking place.

  2. Marie on August 8th, 2016 11:41 pm

    For people who do not work in a convenience store could never know what danger and difficulties it is to be robbed, when you get a gun put in your face you best believe you had better not make that robber angry. You are not allowed to chase a robber or go out of the store to get a tag, Would you run out and look for someone with a gun? Think about it, people like mothers , daughters husbands and sons work in these stores, So for all you who think you need to judge why they don’t jump the robber think before you speak.

  3. Dylan on August 7th, 2016 11:26 am

    The comments on adding more security. The store is not interested in capturing face shots. They are concerned more about the employees not stealing. But I must agree that side cameras would have caught the face shot on this 2 x’s robber. The robbery was such a smooth transition, that the delivery man didn’t have a clue of what was happening. Different clothing, but I feel this is the same guy both times. He will eventually get caught. Recently, I was at a Shell station near there. I was leaving the store and the clerk shorted me $20.00. I went back to her line and the assistant manager came over to take care of the situation. He said he would be right back. 5 minutes later he returned and gave me my $20.00. He said he reviewed the camera and saw how much she counted out. I looked up in the ceiling as I was leaving the store, and cameras are placed above all counters. Shell gets your face/body photo and the registers.

  4. BKP on August 6th, 2016 8:14 pm

    As you might realize, if you’d ever paid the least bit of attention, many if not most retail businesses have a policy on resisting robbery. Many do not permit it and fire anyone who does resist. In the case of the Tom Thumb, and many other such businesses, a limited amount of cash is kept in the registers and other money is placed in a safe to which the employees on duty do not have access. CCTV is used to monitor employees to ensure these desired behaviors.

    To accuse these employees of collusion (that means “of helping the crooks”) is absolutely unfounded.

  5. Who Dun It on August 4th, 2016 11:13 pm

    Ever thought it could be in inside job?

  6. Cain't sees it on August 4th, 2016 6:51 pm

    “Surveillance video from both robberies is below.”

    Below what? I don’t see anything except the comments. Where’s the linky?

  7. Henry Coe on August 4th, 2016 4:05 pm

    As easy as it would be to do, why not post security cameras at different angles in the store. i.e. on walls at eye level, on the counter, looking up. etc.

  8. RaLoLo on August 4th, 2016 3:25 pm

    No face shots? From the back, the gentleman resembles another man that I always see riding up and down in that area on Highway 29 on his bicycle. An older gentleman with graying bald hair. Oftentimes wearing a hat. Everybody seen him in the area that knows that area…. known convicted felon so the sherrifs know him if they patrol cedar tree lane….. again, purely speculation without any face shots

  9. George on August 4th, 2016 1:15 pm

    Employees are told not to try and stop robbers or they will be fired. Cooperate and stay safe. Get them out of the store. I’ve been there and it was all I could do not to beat up the thief, I needed the job. Better to stay alive then be a dead hero over a few dollars.

  10. Tammy on August 4th, 2016 9:05 am

    Whats in the bag? They look like they are a little bigger the the robbery guy,
    I would have took him out , NO GUN your done sucker,,

  11. Bella on August 4th, 2016 8:03 am

    Seems it might involve store employee? Just happily opened the register? Guy just walks in, goes behind counter? Register opens? Delivery guy walks in? Employees don’t even get a tag off a car? (if there was one) Employees say nothing to the delivery guy?

  12. BLT on August 4th, 2016 5:44 am

    Once you find a store with friendly, helpful employees, you just want to keep doing business there.