Thief uses steel rod to steal cash, lotto tickets from Hamilton gas station

Update: Hamilton police have arrested a 39-year-old man for several robberies that occurred over the course of three days.

Shortly before 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, a man walked into the Pioneer gas bar at the corner of Mohawk Rd. and Garth St.

Video surveillance shows the man confront a store employee while holding what appears to be a steel rod in his hands.The clerk says the thief demanded money and lottery tickets. The video shows the man grab an entire tray of lottery tickets before he walks behind the counter and steals some cash.

Police say the same man, armed with a weapon entered a variety store on Wilson St. around 11 p.m. Monday and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

Earlier that day, police say the suspect robbed a gas station on King St. and New St. around 2 a.m., a restaurant on Main and Emerson St. at 4:30 a.m. and a convenience store on King St and Longwood Rd. at 7:30 a.m.

A 39-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with robbery x5 and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.