Deputies say a Poway man is behind bars after two late-night spa robberies that left employees shaken and the community on edge.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, a man armed with a knife walked into a business in the 13000 block of Pomerado Road last Saturday, demanded cash, and punched a female employee. A woman at a second spa in the 12000 block of Poway Road reported a similar encounter later that same evening.
Detectives identified the suspect as Thomas Colden (DOB 06/29/2004). He was arrested at a home in Poway just before 7 AM on Monday and booked into San Diego Central Jail, with bail set at $600,000.
How investigators tracked the suspect
Detectives say they pulled surveillance video from nearby businesses and matched it with automated license-plate reader hits that pointed to a green Dodge Challenger linked to both incidents. A Poway detective recognized the car from an earlier lewd-act investigation, according to the sheriff’s account.
Using the video and license-plate data, investigators narrowed down a location and moved in on a home in Poway just before dawn, where they arrested Colden. Authorities credit the mix of surveillance footage and automated plate readers with helping them zero in on the suspect.
How to report tips
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s communications center at (858) 868-3200. Anonymous tips can be submitted to San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or through its website. See the Poway Station page for local contact details, and visit San Diego County Crime Stoppers for anonymous tip options.
Charges and booking
The sheriff’s post lists felony allegations including robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, sexual battery, false imprisonment and burglary. Booking records show Colden was taken to San Diego Central Jail, where his bail was set at $600,000. Prosecutors will now review the case and decide whether to file formal charges.
For the sheriff’s full account of the arrest and investigative details, see the San Diego County Sheriff's Office on X.
#KeepingYouSafe
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) January 29, 2026
A man has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a spa business in Poway.
On Saturday, January 24, just after 8:30 p.m., @SDSheriff deputies from the Poway Sheriff's Station responded to Poway Spa located in the 13000 block of Pomerado Road for reports of an… pic.twitter.com/bQuLEFLDi4
Spa robberies around the county
Spa and wellness businesses across the region have been hit with similar robberies in recent months, and investigators say they are leaning heavily on surveillance video and community tips to close cases.
In one earlier incident, a late-night hold-up at a Sunny Spa in Kearny Mesa underscored how exposed small storefront wellness businesses can be. Owners and law enforcement say strong camera coverage and fast reporting often make the difference when it comes to tracking down suspects.
