By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

UPDATE: Nanaimo RCMP arrest man accused of crime spree

Jun 20, 2018 | 11:41 AM

NANAIMO — Police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with a series of robberies at downtown Nanaimo convenience stores.

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW a 55-year-old man was arrested near Port Place Shopping Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

“One of our civilian employees was out for a run and saw this individual riding by on a bike. She ran back to the office and our boys went downtown and flooded the streets. Within minutes they located him and took him into custody.”

The man can’t be named at this point as he hasn’t been formally charged. He’s being held in custody ahead of a court appearance.

O’Brien said he’s confident the man’s female accomplice will be “identified shortly.”

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EARLIER:

Police are searching for a man suspected in a multi-day crime spree targeting three Nanaimo convenience stores and some tools.

Nanaimo RCMP said video surveillance showed the same man allegedly robbing the three downtown stores over a four-hour period late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.

In all three instances police said the man walked up to the clerk, demanded and was given cash, and then ran away. No one was hurt and no weapons were involved in any of the alleged robberies. Police won’t say how much money was taken.

The same man and a female accomplice were also spotted allegedly stealing tools from a home on Waddington Ave. around 9 a.m. on Monday, June 18.

The man is described as white, 45-to-55-years-old with a busy moustache. He was wearing a dark baseball hat, a white t-shirt, glasses, and cut-off jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

The three stores the man is suspected of robbing:

1. Chevron at 222 Terminal Ave. at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19
2. Shell at 199 Nicol St. at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20
3. 7-Eleven at 477 Terminal Ave. at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20