LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro police arrested a serial robber Tuesday who once served 20 years in prison.
Tommy Hardin, 51, was arrested by LMPD Robbery Unit detectives, with assistance from the Mt. Sterling Police Department, in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, nearly two hours east of Louisville.
According to police, Hardin robbed the House of Gelish Nails on Bardstown Road and Bearnos Pizza on Taylorsville Road in Louisville's 5th Division on June 10.
According to an arrest citation, Hardin approached a woman behind the Bearno's Pizza armed with a handgun. The woman fled inside the business, where he allegedly followed her. He then pointed the gun at another two people inside the restaurant and demanded to know where the money was.
Police said Hardin then pointed the gun at another female employee and pushed her into the officer where he forced her to open the safe and threatened to shoot her in the head if she didn't hurry up. He then started counting down from ten when she offered him the safe code and money in the register, LMPD said.
The employee was eventually able to open the safe and gave Hardin all the money. Authorities said prior to that incident, Hardin entered the House of Gelish Nails and pointed a gun at an employee, again demanding that she give him the business' cash. The man was able to flee and call 911, he said Hardin could be seen searching around the business before fleeing down Bardstown Road.
Authorities were able to identify Hardin through surveillance video from Bearnos and a nearby business.
Multiple search warrants were served in Montgomery and Bath counties, which uncovered evidence in both robberies, according to LMPD.
Hardin is charged with first degree robbery and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail.
Hardin was convicted in 2005 and served 20 years of a 40-year sentence. He was paroled in 2022.
In 2003, Hardin committed 33 robberies in Metro Louisville. He also has past robbery convictions in Warren, Meade, Nelson, Hardin and Daviess counties.
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