A second suspect was arrested in the July 8 armed robbery of a Redlands jewelry store.
Police responded at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 8, to the report of an armed robbery at Kay Jewelers in the Mountain Grove Plaza shopping center, 27461 San Bernardino Ave.
Two men entered the store. One of them forced two employees at gunpoint to the back of the store and used their keys to gain access to the jewelry. The men stole items of jewelry valued at approximately $100,000 and fled the store. No injuries were reported.
Investigators later identified a silver Cadillac 4-door sedan with a license plate matching a car used in a similar robbery earlier that day at a Metro PCS store in Moreno Valley.
Redlands Police issued a notice to other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the vehicle. At about 8 p.m. Monday, July 9, Los Angeles Police stopped the vehicle in Los Angeles. The driver of the vehicle was found in possession of some of the stolen jewelry and was still wearing the same clothing from the Redlands robbery. Redlands Police responded and arrested 22-year-old Tommy Leeray Thompson, of Compton.
Redlands Police investigators later identified the second suspect as 25-year-old Jahon Jahari Keith Woodson, of Compton. Police obtained a warrant for Woodson’s arrest and on Aug. 1, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies located Woodson in Palmdale. Redlands Police responded and arrested Woodson on the robbery charge. The District Attorney’s Office has filed robbery charges on both Woodson and Thompson.
Police recovered approximately $20,000 in stolen jewelry from the Redlands robbery.
Both men were also identified in three robberies in Moreno Valley between June 20 and July 8.
Anyone with information regarding crime or suspicious activity is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681 ext. 1. Certain non-emergency crimes may also be reported online using the Redlands Police Department’s CopLogic reporting system at cityofredlands.org/police/report. Suspicious activity and tips can be reported using the City of Redlands 311 mobile app available for Android, iPhones, and iPads.
Redlands Police press releases and other information are available on the Redlands Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/redlandspolicedepartment or on the Department website at www.redlandspolice.org