MORGANTOWN — A man accused of two armed robberies was arrested and charged on Thursday after a joint investigation between the Morgantown Police Department and Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department.
Thomas Allen Hollis, 53, of Morgantown is charged with two counts of armed robbery.
About 9 p.m., Oct. 20, Hollis entered the Gamestop on Hornbeck Road, showed a handgun, tied up two employees and stole about $3,200, according to a criminal complaint.
Hollis returned to Gamestop on Dec. 17 to buy something, according to the complaint. One of the employees who was tied up during the robbery, identified only as L.S., helped Hollis with his purchase and recognized him as the person who robbed the store. Hollis was wearing the same “distinctive plaid pajama pants and shoes” as he was during the robbery, the complaint stated.
Hollis renewed his Gamestop membership card, giving L.S. his information. After Hollis left the store, L.S. called the police and gave them that information, the complaint stated.
In an interview Thursday Hollis admitted he robbed the store, the complaint said.
A second criminal complaint alleges Hollis was the man who robbed Smoker Friendly in Pierpont Centre on Monday night.
Just before 6 p.m. Hollis entered Smoker Friend, demanded money and showed the cashier a gun, the complaint stated. The clerk took several hundred dollars from the register and put it into a white bag Hollis was holding.
After searching Hollis’ home, the clothing he wore during the robbery – a dark beanie, Steelers hoodie or jacket, black gloves, black and yellow flannel pajama pants and black tennis shoes with white soles were found, the complaint stated.
Hollis also admitted he robbed the store and that he used a fake gun painted to look real. That gun was also found during the search. Photographs from the robbery matched Hollis, the complaint stated.
West Virginia State Police are obtaining a warrant for Hollis in relation to the armed robbery of Books-A-Million in Pierpont Centre on Oct. 18, according to an MPD press release.
He was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court on Thursday before Magistrate Hershel Mullins who set bond at $50,000.
