Life Without Parole For Armed Robber, 5-Time Felon

ATLANTA, GA — A botched robbery in Alpharetta was the tipping point for a man found guilty of armed robbery and other charges, according to a release from the Fulton County District Attorney. Thomas Bennett, 42, who has five prior felony convictions, will serve life in prison without parole.

On Dec. 9, 2016, around midnight, Bennett shattered a window of a van stopped at the red light of Harris and Rucker roads in Alpharetta, the DA said. He threatened the woman with a knife, the DA said, but she fought back and eventually escaped to a nearby house where she called 911.

Bennett took off with the van, the release says.

Then, on Dec. 15, Bennett tried to rob the Walgreens on Crabapple Road in Alpharetta, threatening to shoot the cashier if she didn't comply, the DA said. She refused to give in to his demands, "so he left the Walgreens in frustration."

As he was leaving, surveillance camera captured Bennett attempting to steal a purse from a woman outside the store. She fought him off, so he drove off in the Dodge Caravan he had hijacked a week earlier, according to the release.

Alpharetta investigators posted the Walgreens surveillance video on their Facebook. On Dec. 19, they got a call from a neighbor of Bennett's who had seen him with the Dodge Caravan, the release says. Police responded to his home and arrested him.

A DNA test showed a positive match between Bennett's and the blood found in the Caravan.

Bennett was convicted of armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, criminal trespassing, attempted armed robbery and attempted robbery.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 40 years.

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