Serial robber draws prison

Convicted of stealing from 8 Pottstown-area convenience stores

NORRISTOWN » A thief who had a liking for cigarettes saw his robbery scheme go up in smoke when he was captured and sent to prison for a series of robberies that targeted Pottstown-area convenience stores.

Joseph James Parks, 39, of the 4500 block of Fernhill Road, Philadelphia, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to three to six years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and retail theft in connection with eight thefts at stores in Pottstown, Lower Pottsgrive and West Pottsgrove between January and February 2017.

Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Parks, who is also known as Joseph Mims, to pay a total of $1,819 in restitution to the stores from which he stole cigarettes and cash.

The investigation began in January 2017 when Lower Pottsgrove

police received reports of thefts of cigarettes from the Turkey Hill store at 3051 E. High St. and the Redner’s store at 1300 N. Charlotte St.

“Through the course of this investigation, it was determined that there were similar thefts and robberies occurring in multiple jurisdictions in southwestern Montgomery County,” Lower Pottsgrove Detective Daniel Kienle wrote in an arrest affidavit, adding a multi-jurisdictional investigation was launched between Pottstown, Lower Pottsgrove and West Pottsgrove police.

Parks, who had ties to Lower Pottsgrove, had a similar modus operandi as he committed the thefts. He often entered the stores and asked a cashier to purchase cartons of cigarettes and when the clerk would place the cartons on the counter Parks would grab them and take off without paying, according to court papers.

During a Feb. 12 robbery at the Turkey Hill at 798 N. Charlotte St. in Pottstown Parks allegedly told the cashier, “I have a gun, don’t try to follow me,” according to the criminal complaint. Parks then grabbed three cartons of cigarettes, valued at $237, and fled from the store, detectives alleged.

During a 1:17 a.m. robbery at the Redner’s store at 1300 N. Charlotte St. in Lower Pottsgrove, the second time the store was hit by Parks, Parks displayed a handgun that was attached to his waistband when the cashier opened her cash drawer. Parks allegedly told the cashier, “Give me all of the money or I’ll blow your brains out,” according to the criminal complaint. Parks got away with $400 in cash and cigarettes valued at $70, detectives said.

Other robberies occurred at the 7-11 at 1057 W. High St., West Pottsgrove; the Redner’s Quick Shoppe at 367 E. High St., Pottstown; and the Getty Mart at 1001 Buchert Road, Lower Pottsgrove, according to court documents.

Detectives retrieved surveillance video from the stores and were able to identify Parks as a suspect in the crimes.

On Feb. 17, Lower Pottsgrove detectives went to the Buchert Road residence of a relative of Parks. During a search of that residence, detectives found clothing that matched the clothing worn by the robber and the clothing was linked to Parks, court documents indicate.