Police arrest man allegedly behind 13 pharmacy holdups - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

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Police arrest man allegedly behind 13 pharmacy holdups

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Surveillance camera snaps a photo of the so-called Calligraphy Bandit. (Source: Phoenix Police Department) Surveillance camera snaps a photo of the so-called Calligraphy Bandit. (Source: Phoenix Police Department)
Tomas Garcia-Mancinas Tomas Garcia-Mancinas
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PHOENIX (CBS5) -

A man police said was behind at least 13 armed robberies at pharmacies across the Valley has been captured.

The suspect, known as the Calligraphy bandit, struck between November and Jan. 15.

Tomas Garcia-Mancinas, 25, was arrested Friday at his Phoenix home. Search warrants were served and police said they found three different weapons believed to be used in the robberies.

Police said Garcia-Mancinas would usually enter a business and go directly to the pharmacy, where he handed over a handwritten note demanding oxycodone.

Police said he was armed with a handgun and had been aggressive in recent robberies. He would flee as soon as he was given the drugs.

Garcia-Mancinas didn't get lucky when he tried to hit Walgreens stores, police said.  That's because the chain installed time-delay safes in their Arizona stores in August 2012.

"We've seen approximately about an 80 percent decrease in oxycodone-type robberies since installing the time delay safe at Walgreens," said Walgreens Loss Prevention Officer Ken Ridolfi.

Officers said Garcia-Mancinas admitted involvement in the crimes and has been booked on numerous felonies related to the robberies.

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