Suffolk County police said they have apprehended a suspect wanted for robbing nine businesses, including gas stations, a tanning salon, drug store and a Jamba Juice over the past two weeks.
Pattern Crime Unit detectives located Paul Tromblee driving on Sunrise Highway in Brookhaven shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, arresting him one nine counts of robbery.
Police said the 35-year-old Manorville man robbed gas stations in Calverton, Mastic, North Babylon, St. James, Dix Hills, and Bohemia since Oct. 26. He also allegedly robbed Kissed by the Sun Tanning in Islip, a CVS Pharmacy in Lake Ronkonkoma and Jamba Juice in Stony Brook.
In each case he pretended to make a purchase, then demanded money and flashed what appeared to be a gun when the clerk opened the register, police said. Authorities did not say they found a gun when the suspect was taken into custody.
Tromblee will be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Detectives, who identified the suspect from surveillance video as well as Crime Stoppers tips, are continuing to investigate if Tromblee is responsible for other recent robberies.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
