GIFFORD — Newly released surveillance footage shows the moments where a man wearing a brown jacket, dark sunglasses and a black face mask robbed a Wawa convenience store in less than one minute. The 42-year-old man motioned as if he had a gun while robbing the clerk on Sunday morning.
The man told the clerk “give me the money now” before taking off with nearly $300 in cash, reports show. Indian River County sheriff’s deputies released the store’s 1 minute and 14 second-surveillance footage on Tuesday.
“He was quickly identified and located within the hour after the robbery,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Detroit Tranez Thomas, of the 3900 block of 47th Place, Gifford, was charged with robbery with a firearm. Thomas was held Monday at the Indian River County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Investigators could not find a weapon on Thomas after they detained him at a nearby home.
Deputies responded to reports of the robbery about 6:05 a.m. Sunday at Wawa located in the 4400 block of U.S. 1, across the street from Cumberland Farms. The deputies reviewed surveillance video, which showed a masked man walk to the cashier, stick his right arm under his shirt and point an unknown object at the employee, reports show.
The cashier quickly grabbed money from the register and handed it to Thomas. Deputies said Thomas left the store, tossed his ski mask in the south parking lot and threw an item near the dumpster.
Witnesses told deputies they saw a man matching the suspect’s description run from the store south on Old Dixie Highway in the direction of 43rd Street, reports show. Deputies went to a home on 43rd Street and 25th Avenue, where they found Thomas inside.
Thomas had removed some of his clothing and only wore black shorts and a t-shirt. Deputies searched the home and found Thomas’ brown jacket and other apparel, seen in the surveillance footage, laying on a bed in the residence.
Deputies said Thomas hid the stolen money underneath a mattress, reports show.
Deputies arrested Thomas and booked him into the county jail. Thomas has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. March 20, court records show.
