Police Arrest Suspect in at Least 14 Robberies
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Police on Friday arrested a man suspected of committing at least 14 robberies in four Orange County cities, officials said.
Michael Norman Knapp, 41, of Orange is a suspect in a rash of store robberies in Orange, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Anaheim, police said. Investigators learned that a description matching the robber’s vehicle was given in a spate of crimes that began in April.
On Thursday and Friday, 30 investigators from the four cities staked out several locations, hoping to catch the robber. About 2:30 p.m. Friday, a robbery was reported at Mailboxes for U in the 5700 block of East La Palma Avenue in Anaheim. When investigators spotted a car matching the description of the robber’s vehicle traveling south on the Costa Mesa Freeway near Katella Avenue in Orange, they stopped the vehicle and arrested Knapp.
Police said they searched the car and found a fake handgun and money that they think was taken during the latest robbery.
Knapp was being held at the Anaheim City Jail on one count of robbery, pending further investigation, authorities said.
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