Cops disconnect Tacoma cellphone store robber’s crime spree
A Tacoma man with an alleged penchant for holding up mobile phone stores is facing six counts of robbery.
Charges filed in Pierce County Superior Court say Jason Tovio Tau, 33, robbed six cellphone stores between Feb. 18 and March 27.
Details from a March 25 holdup in the 8400 block of South Hosmer Street in Tacoma, in which Tau is charged, say the robber walked in wearing a black mask, white flip-flops and other clothing.
Using a gun, he demanded the clerk and a customer lie on the floor. He took $1,234 from the business.
Other cellphone store robberies in which Tau is charged took place:
▪ Feb. 18 in the 13500 block of Meridian East, Puyallup.
▪ Feb. 21 in the 5000 block of South 56th Street, Tacoma.
▪ Feb. 28 in the 13500 block of Meridian East, Puyallup.
▪ March 23 in the 5600 block of East Portland Avenue, Tacoma.
▪ March 27 in the 22200 block of Mountain Highway East, Spanaway.
Tacoma police detectives traced a vehicle used in the robberies to Tau. Initially, he denied being involved but then acknowledged committing the robberies, according to charging papers.
Tau told detectives the gun he used was an “old, broken BB gun.”
He said he used it to scare clerks into complying with his demands and he never pointed it directly at them.
Bail was set at $200,000.
Craig Sailor: 253-597-8541, @crsailor
This story was originally published April 4, 2017 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Cops disconnect Tacoma cellphone store robber’s crime spree."