Serial robber pleads guilty to four counts of robbery after crime spree

BEACHWOOD, NJ – The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has announced Thomas Jann, 34, of Beachwood, pled guilty to two counts of Robbery in the First Degree in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1; four counts of Robbery in the Second Degree and one count of Burglary before the Honorable Michael T. Collins, J.S.C.

Those charges were in connection with a string of incidents that occurred between July 27, 2020, and December 31, 2020, in Toms River, Berkeley Township, and Beachwood. At the time of his sentencing on January 14, 2022, the State will be seeking a term of sixteen years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the First Degree Robbery charges, and eight years NJSP as to the Second Degree Robbery charges. These sentences will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2. Additionally, the State will be seeking a term of four years NJSP as to the Burglary charge. All sentences are to run concurrently.

A cooperative investigation between the Toms River Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department, and Beachwood Police Department, resulted in Jann being identified as the individual responsible for a string of robberies that occurred in those municipalities in December 2020. Specifically, the investigation revealed that Jann attacked a gas station attendant at the Wawa convenience store on Route 9 in Toms River on December 19, 2020, and stole money from the cash register.

On December 24, 2020, Jann entered the Robins convenience store in Beachwood and brandished what appeared to be a box cutter in the direction of the attendant; he then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene.

On December 26, 2020, Jann entered the Shoprite supermarket located on Route 9 in Bayville, stole money from the cash register, and pushed a female as he fled the store. That same day, Jann entered the Krauszers convenience store on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, attacked the cashier, and fled with cigarettes.

On December 30, 2020, Jann entered the 7-11 convenience store on Route 166 in Toms River, grabbed the cashier around the neck and held a rock to his head; he then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene. On December 31, 2020, Jann entered the Exxon Tiger Mart on Route 37 in Toms River, threw hot coffee at the attendant, and stole money from the cash register.

Through the course of the investigation, Detectives were also able to determine that Jann unlawfully entered a residence in Beachwood on July 27, 2020, and stole cash from the home.

On January 1, 2021, Jann was apprehended by the Officers of the Toms River Township Police Department. He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.

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