RENO -- An apparent serial robber was arrested in connection with a string of robberies in and near downtown Reno this week.

On Tuesday from 11:45 a.m. to 7:10 p.m., officers with the Reno Police Department responded to two larceny of purses as well as an attempted robbery of a fast food restaurant and robbery of another fast food restaurant in the downtown area.  The descriptions of the suspect in all four of these cases were similar.  Wednesday night at aroudn 10:45, the same suspect committed a robbery of a gas station near 9th and Virginia streets and immediately attempted another robbery of a nearby drugstore.

Officers located the suspect inside a downtown business and took him into custody without incident.  The suspect was still in possession of items linking him to the robberies.  It should be noted that the suspect simulated a weapon although he was not armed at the time of his arrest and no weapon was ever displayed to a victim.

37-year-old Matthew Larson has been charged with 2 counts of Robbery, 2 counts of Attempted Robbery, 5 counts of Burglary and one count of Petit Larceny.