Armed Robbery in Poway
January 29, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office officials report that a man has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a spa 
business in Poway.
On Saturday, January 24, just after 8:30 p.m., deputies from the Poway Sheriff's Station responded to Poway Spa located in the 13000 block of Pomerado Road for reports of an armed person demanding money from a female employee. The person was described as a White adult man wearing a face mask. He was armed with a knife when he demanded money from the employee and punched her in the face before leaving.
A few minutes after the incident at Poway Spa, a second similar crime was reported at Lavender Spa located in the 12000 block of Poway Road. The victim at Lavender Spa provided a similar description as the person who had just robbed Poway Spa.
Both businesses were able to provide video surveillance footage. A neighboring business provided video of the man's vehicle, a green Dodge Challenger, leaving the area. A Poway Detective working that night immediately recognized the description of the Challenger from a previous lewd act investigation involving a man fitting the same description. After reviewing the video surveillance, a positive identification was made of the man.
License plate reader camera systems further confirmed that the green Dodge Challenger was in the area of the businesses at the time of the incidents. The man was positively identified as Thomas Colden (21).
On Monday, January 26, just before 7:00 a.m., Poway Deputies and Detectives contacted Colden at a home in Poway. He was arrested on multiple charges, including burglary, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment and sexual battery.
Colden was booked into the San Diego Central Jail. His bail is currently set at $600,000.
Due to the collection of video footage from the businesses and use of license plate reader technology, detectives were able to quickly identify and arrest this dangerous person.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please call the Sheriff's Communications Center at (858) 868-3200. You can also remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or by visiting www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Office
