Pharmacy Robber Apprehended By Mesa Police
March 18, 2008
On
March 10, 2008 at 4:47 pm, the Mesa Police Department arrested
39-year-old Thayne E. Jensen (seen in photo) of Mesa in
connection with the robbery of the Discount Pharmacy located at
1059 S. Mesa Drive in Mesa. Investigators believe that Jensen is
responsible for 4 robberies at this location between late
December of 2007 and March of 2008.
The two latest robberies both occurred on March 10, 2008 at 2:06
pm and 4:47 pm. During the first robbery, the suspect, later
identified as Thayne Jensen, is suspected of entering the
pharmacy and immediately pulling his sweatshirt over his head.
He approached the counter with his hands in his pocket, as if he
was holding a weapon, and told the pharmacist to give him pain
medication. The pharmacist complied, giving Jensen five bottles
labeled "Oxycotin" and "Oxycodone." Jensen took the bottles from
the pharmacist and placed them in his pockets. He told the
pharmacist to wait 3 minutes before calling the police and he
fled the scene on foot. Police were notified of the robbery and
responded immediately. Officers checked the area and were unable
to locate Jensen. At the time of the initial investigation
Jensen had not yet been identified. The bottles given to Jensen
contained aspirin, even though they were marked "Oxycotin" and
"Oxycodone."
Detectives responded to the pharmacy to conduct further
investigation. At 4:47 pm Jensen returned to the pharmacy, while
detectives were inside conducting their investigation. Jensen
was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sunglasses. He had
the hood pulled over his head and his hands were in the front
pocket of the sweatshirt, as if he was holding a weapon. Jensen
approached the front counter and said, "Very funny, now I'm back
for the real stuff." The detectives on scene came out from the
back of the store and confronted Jensen who, by that time,
pulled a knife from his sweatshirt pocket. Detectives had their
duty weapons drawn and pointed at Jensen, who then put the knife
to his own throat. Jensen told detectives to shoot him, but they
showed great restraint and recognized that he was not making
threatening movements towards them. Detectives were able to talk
Jensen into dropping the knife and he was taken into police
custody without further incident. After the arrest, items of
evidence linking Jensen to the robbery just two hours earlier
were found in his possession.
Jensen was booked on two counts of armed robbery. Jensen is
suspected of robbing the Discount Pharmacy in December of 2007
and February of 2008. Two additional charges of armed robbery
have been filed with the Maricopa County Attorney.