Good Samaritan Stops Target Robbery

A 47-year-old Acworth man tried to rob a woman Monday morning in the parking lot of the Canton Marketplace Target, Det. Candy Worthy said today.

The woman, whose name was not released, was loading her car around 10:52 a.m. when the suspect, identified as Daniel Edward Thomason, approached her from behind.

"The victim recalled feeling an object penetrating her back and Thomason then tried pushing her into the vehicle," Worthy said. "The victim began resisting and Thomason grabbed her purse and sat down in the victim's vehicle, which was unlocked and opened at this time."

Thomason shut the car door.

As he continued to go through the woman's purse, Worthy said the woman pushed the panic button on her car key, which locked the suspect in the vehicle.

The woman screamed for help. A man, identified only as Ryan in a WSB-TV report, entered the lot and saw the commotion.

Worthy said that man pulled Thomason out of the vehicle and "began his own investigation.

"The male citizen told Thomason to lift his shirt to show that he had not talking anything from the victim. The male citizen also checked Thomason's pockets." 

Other witnesses called 911 and stayed in the area until Canton Police units arrived.

Thomason was arrested on charges of robbery by sudden snatch, entering auto and simple battery. He was booked into the .

Georgia Department of Corrections records show that Thomason just got out of state prison on July 22 on similar charges.

"Additional charges are possible and are being looked into," Worthy said. "Due to how upset the victim was at the scene, the stick weapon information was not realized until later."

The woman only had minor injuries from the altercation, namely a bruised arm.

"The victim is following up with her doctor to see if she has any serious injuries to that area because of the struggle," Worthy said.

To watch the WSB report, go to www.wsbtv.com/video/index.html, then click on the local tab. Look for "Attempted Carjacking Victim Recounts Ordeal".

Search for robbery suspects continues. The Canton Police Department has not received "any tips" in the week since it released surveillance camera footage of a robbery at an area , Det. Candy Worthy said today.

Around 2 a.m. July 11, three suspects walked inside the Marietta Highway gas station and caused a distraction. A fourth suspect waited outside in a parked vehicle.

"The suspects stole four cases of cigarettes valued at $4,800, $245 cash from the cash register and the clerk’s cell phone," Worthy said. "One of the suspects pushed and intimidated the clerk during the incident."

The clerk was not injured.

The suspects, all of them African-American, fled in either a gold/tan passenger car or a white, 90s model Oldsmobile.

"It is believed that these suspects have committed other similar thefts in Woodstock and in other counties," Worthy said. 

If you have any information about the suspects, call Det. Drew Henson at 770-720-4883.

"We are still looking for more information on it," Worthy said.

Flip through the images on this page for screen shots of the surveillance camera footage.