Days of monitoring and patrols finally paid off for the police on Monday evening, when they tracked down the prime suspect believed to be responsible for two armed robberies.

The police mobilised their resources after two pharmacies, in Paola and Sta Lucija, were targeted by a knife-wielding robber in recent weeks.

A squad car was out on patrol duty at closing time on Monday, when a 24-year-old man was stopped.

However, before the police could question him, the man tried to run off. He was caught and a knife was found under a car in the immediate vicinity.

The man was taken in for questioning, as a result of which, coupled with accompanying investigations, the police believe that he was responsible for the robberies.

He is due to be charged in court in the next few days.