MIAMI – A 46-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a string of armed robberies that occurred in the city of Miami, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to Miami police, Carlos Orlando Sainz, who is currently homeless, is responsible for a series of armed robberies and one carjacking that occurred within a 24-hour period, beginning early Monday morning.
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An arrest report detailed the first armed robbery, which reportedly occurred at about 3 a.m. Monday, at a CVS located at 170 SE Third Ave.
Police said Sainz entered the store and an employee who recognized him from a previous theft told him he was not allowed inside and had been trespassed.
According to the arrest report, Sainz then pulled out a pocket knife and told the victim, “You’re going to see what a real robbery is.”
He then walked behind the counter and snatched the register before fleeing west on Southeast Second Street, police said.
Authorities said two witnesses chased Sainz and were able to grab the register and knife from him.
According to a separate arrest report, at about 9 p.m. that same day, Sainz and another man held a victim at knifepoint while robbing him of his scooter in the area of Northeast Miami Place and 17th Street.
Sainz then used the scooter to travel to the Walgreens located at 200 SW 13th St., where he committed another armed robbery, authorities said.
Police said Sainz was again armed with a pocketknife when he allegedly ordered an employee to open the cash register and give him money.
In that robbery, Sainz got away with $135, authorities said.
According to police, the final armed robbery occurred at about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Northeast 29th Street.
Police said a woman was standing on the corner of the street when she spotted Sainz looking at her.
The woman told police that she called her husband as she began to cross the street, at which time Sainz walked up to her and started speaking in Spanish.
Police said the woman told Sainz that she didn’t speak Spanish, at which time he pulled out a knife and snatched her purse and cellphone.
“Through diligent investigative efforts and a coordinated response from patrol personnel, officers were able to quickly place the suspect into custody without incident,” the police department said Wednesday in a news release.
Sainz was arrested Tuesday on charges of armed robbery and armed robbery/carjacking.
As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where his bond had yet to be set.