Surveillance Footage Unmasks 23-Time Felon—Mom Confirms His Identity

A man with a lengthy criminal history, having been convicted 23 times, is now facing accusations of committing an armed robbery at a Walgreens pharmacy. According to authorities, he allegedly entered the store, brandished a firearm, and demanded money from the cashier. The suspect reportedly fled the scene with approximately $835 in cash taken from the register.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) reported that an armed robbery took place at a Walgreens pharmacy situated at 4020 Jog Road. The incident occurred on January 12, when a suspect allegedly entered the store and carried out the crime while threatening the staff with a weapon.

Authorities reported that Jefferey Helms approached a cashier at a Walgreens and requested a pack of cigarettes. As the cashier opened the register to complete the sale, Helms allegedly pulled out a black handgun, aiming it at the employee while demanding cash. Fearing for their safety, the cashier complied with his demands, placing $835 in cash on the counter. Helms then grabbed the money and quickly fled the store before law enforcement arrived.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) responded promptly to the scene, securing the area to preserve evidence. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, which clearly captured Helms’ appearance during the robbery. He was described as a slender man, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a black baseball cap, sunglasses, a white and blue striped button-down shirt, and khaki pants. A notable identifying feature observed in the footage was a distinctive clover-shaped tattoo on his right hand, which further aided in his identification.

Further investigation by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) revealed a connection between Jefferey Helms and several other similar armed robberies in the area. This helped authorities confirm his identity. Helms, 39, has an extensive criminal record, including 23 felony convictions, several of which involve previous armed robberies of businesses.

On January 14, law enforcement officials interviewed Helms’ mother at her home in Wellington, Florida. During this meeting, she recognized her son from the surveillance footage released by the authorities and confirmed that he had been at her residence shortly before the robbery took place.

Following this lead, on January 17, law enforcement tracked down Helms and took him into custody. He was arrested on charges of robbery with a firearm, failure to appear in court, and violating the conditions of his release.