A man was arrested by the police after allegedly committing three thefts within a space of a few hours in St Julian’s. The man is also wanted in connection with a fourth theft in Ta’ Xbiex, the police said in a statement.

The 27-year-old man from Ta’ Xbiex is being held for further questioning.

On Friday at 10pm, a 46-year-old man of Pembroke and a 40-year-old woman from Valletta reported at the St Julian’s police station that they had been stopped by a man in Dragonara Road. The man brandished a knife and made off with cash; neither of the two was injured.

Just before midnight, a 29-year-old man of Mgarr reported at the St Julian’s station that he had been attacked by a man with a knife in Spinola Road. The Mgarr resident was taken to a health centre for an injury to one of his hands.

Descriptions given by the victims led the police to suspect that the same person was behind the attacks, and members of the Rapid Intervention Unit were involved to search for the aggressor. While this was taking place, at 12.30am a 44-year-old man of Marsascala reported that a man had stolen money from him after brandishing a knife.

CCTV cameras enabled the police to identify the aggressor and officers went to his home in St Julian’s, where he was arrested. In a search at his residence, the police found the knife which had allegedly been used in the attacks, clothes that had been worn by the man as seen on the CCTV cameras and other objects related to the thefts.

While being questioned at the police lock-up in Floriana, it transpired that the man had also been involved in a theft in Abate Rigord Street, Ta’ Xbiex, on 30 September. That time, a British couple, aged 62 and 63, were attacked by a man who stole money from them.