Pharmacy robber apprehended by Mesa Police

On March 10, 2008 at 4:47 p.m., the Mesa Police Department arrested 39-year-old Thayne E. Jensen 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 four 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 p.m. and 4:47 p.m. 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 three 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 p.m. 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.

(Photo is of Thayne Jensen.)