The man believed responsible for nighttime car robberies in Carnegie and Scott within the past six weeks was apprehended Tuesday after he was caught in the act in the Cubbage Hill area of Carnegie.

In all cases, the vehicles were unlocked.

Roy E. Neil, Jr., 26, of Burgettstown, who was staying in Scott, had broken into at least three cars when Carnegie police officer Lawrence Gump, acting on a resident's tip about a suspicious person, nabbed him on Doolittle Street.

Mr. Neil was charged by Carnegie police with loitering and prowling at night, two counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, possessing instruments of crime, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. Scott police are expected to file charges, too. He was taken to Allegheny County Jail, Carnegie police Chief Jeffrey Harbin said. Bail was set at $10,000.

Scott police Chief James Secreet said Mr. Neil confessed after his arrest to many of the Scott thefts involving money, purses, checkbooks, credit cards, CDs and small electronic equipment such as GPS devices.

Scott officers have been in touch with pawn shops and have compiled a list of about 50 items pawned in Neil's name, he added.

Carnegie police had documented at least a dozen theft reports involving unlocked vehicles dating back to Aug. 1. Scott started receiving theft reports in late August. Last week, thefts were reported on Lindsay Road, Arla Drive and Greentree and Swallow Hill roads.

Police had increased their nighttime patrols to try to catch the thief, Chief Secreet said.