NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Man Pleads Guilty in Robbery Spree
A North Hollywood man pleaded guilty Friday to committing eight robberies--including a carjacking--during a 10-day period last month.
Arthur Thomas, 40, is expected to receive an eight-year prison sentence during a June 25 hearing before Municipal Judge Jessica Perrin Silvers.
Thomas was arrested May 18 after a high-speed chase in a stolen car that ended in Hollywood. He had committed four robberies in less than one hour.
The first crime of that day was the carjacking of a woman’s 1985 Toyota in the 12950 block of Victory Boulevard. Thomas then used her car to rob two drugstores and a liquor store in North Hollywood, authorities said.
The robbery spree started May 9 at a 99-Cents Only Store in the 6200 block of Laurel Canyon, according to prosecutors. This was followed the next day by a robbery at a North Hollywood doughnut shop.
Thomas also used a gun to rob two food markets on May 16 and May 17. A clerk at the Food Kart Market in Burbank was injured May 17 when Thomas hit him on the head with his weapon, investigators said.
Until his sentencing, Thomas will be held in lieu of $225,000 bail.
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