(Nov. 24, 2003) -- LBPD says ELB's big flabby robber suspect, who police believe is responsible for a series of ELB robberies that began in August, has been arrested.

In a written release, LBPD says a sustpect was taken into custody on November 20 at roughly 7:00 p.m. after LB robbery detectives, working with another unidentified L.A. County law enforcement agency, "were able to obtain copies of surveillance photos from one of the robberies that occurred in that agency’s jurisdiction."

LBPD says, "Those photos, along with thorough investigative work, led detectives to a residence in the City of San Pedro. Long Beach Robbery detectives, with the assistance of members of the Long Beach Police Career Criminal Apprehension Team, conducted surveillance at that residence. When police made telephone contact with the suspect, he attempted to flee the residence through a back window and was immediately apprehended. Evidence linking the suspect to the robberies was found inside the residence."

The LBPD release adds that it is "believed that the suspect is responsible for at least 21 robberies that occurred in cities in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties, eight of which occurred in the City of Long Beach. At this time, the suspect is only being identified as a 30 year-old Downey resident, to allow the other law enforcement agencies an opportunity to complete their investigations. The suspect was a parolee at large who is being held at the Los Angeles County Jail without bail."