Cantonment Man Charged With Tom Thumb Robbery

September 22, 2016

A Cantonment man has been arrested for the September 10 armed robbery of a local convenience store.

Jonathan Mark Vito, 44, was charged with robbery with a firearm, a first degree felony. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000.

Vito allegedly entered the Tom Thumb on Highway 29 and Woodbury Court  about 12:20 a.m. on September 10 and brought a pack of beer to the counter, where he told the clerk that he forgot his wallet and that he would be back. Vito returned to the store about 12:40 a.m. and asked for a pack of cigarettes in addition to the beer. Vito then allegedly demanded the clerk open the register, showing a gun in his waistband. He then grabbed the cigarettes and beer and fled the store in an unknown direction.

Vito was later identified from surveillance images and by his clothing, according to an arrest report. The report states he lives with a his mother a short distance from the store, and she told deputies that he was not at a home at the time of the robbery.

In early August,  Sheriff’s investigators said they believe two previous robberies at the store were committed by the same suspect. The store 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. Vito has not been named a suspect in the July robberies.

Pictured above and below: The Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Woodbury Circle was robbed during the early morning hours on September 10. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Cantonment Man Charged With Tom Thumb Robbery”

  1. Bill on September 23rd, 2016 7:39 am

    Please make a example out of this loser!!!

  2. Bella on September 23rd, 2016 12:03 am

    It’s a personal preference if people live with their parents or not. No one knows this man’s business or his mother’s but themselves. Glad no one at the store was injured. Store clerks go through alot for what they are paid.

  3. XD9RACER on September 22nd, 2016 1:21 pm

    And how many on here jumped the gun indicating it was an inside job. Now they need to write in again with some apologies to the clerks who work for virtually nothing risking their lives only to have thugs like this come in and threaten them and give up the money willfully then couldn’t identify the culprit. GETERDONE

  4. Billy Preston on September 22nd, 2016 12:24 pm

    Beer and cigarettes? I wonder if that beer and those smokes are worth all the time in jail, where there is no beer and cigarettes.

  5. Mel on September 22nd, 2016 12:20 pm

    I’m 46 and if I could live with or closer to my Mom (73) I would. Not to free load like everyone would of course think, it would be to help her. Help her with household work and dinner, etc.

  6. A Alex on September 22nd, 2016 12:00 pm

    To think the mom told the truth … what if she just wanted him out of the house. Just kidding…. if pnly all mothers would tell the truth about their thug kids

  7. chris on September 22nd, 2016 9:57 am

    My sympathies for your loss; I just lost a father in law and a father. My point is: nowhere did it say she need assistance, the article simply stated “lives with mom, robs gas station.” Facts speak for themselves.

  8. Bella on September 22nd, 2016 9:16 am

    Thanks Mom for telling the truth. Some would call “foul”.

  9. bg on September 22nd, 2016 8:12 am

    Wish my mom was still alive to live with..Chris

  10. fisherman on September 22nd, 2016 7:51 am

    @Chris
    A lot of older individuals live with their parents. They may be helping them or just on hard times. Better than living bon street. Hope you never have to move in with your parents.
    No excuse for his actions should have been no bond.

  11. chris on September 22nd, 2016 5:42 am

    44 and lives with his mother?

  12. area resident on September 22nd, 2016 4:59 am

    $50,000.00 bond for a first degree felony?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News