Suspect arrested in connection to several Mt. Airy robberies

A suspect wanted in connection to several robberies in Mt. Airy was apprehended this week.

Police announced that Gary Corbett, 33, from the 7300 block of Devon St., was arrested on Thursday. He faces several dozen charges in connection to five separate incidents in Mt. Airy during October.

The arrest followed a robbery which occurred on the 7400 block of Boyer St. at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The incidents

Police reports of the previous cases suggest that while no weapon was used, physical force was involved in the majority of the incidents.

The robbery pattern began just after 9 p.m. on Oct. 2, when a complainant was approached on the 7300 block of Devon St. by a young man who asked to use her cell phone.

The victim, a 56-year-old woman, screamed for help and was pushed to the ground by the suspect, who took a pocketbook containing an undetermined amount of cash, ID, credit cards and a cellphone, according to police reports.

Then, at 10:20 p.m. Oct. 9, another 56-year-old woman was entering her apartment complex on the 7300 block of Cresheim Road, when someone pulled a black bag off of her shoulder. The bag contained a wallet with credit cards, checks, a cellphone and $100.

Several days later on the same block as the Oct. 9 robbery, a man walking in the driveway of his apartment building when he was approached by a black male who began punching him in the left side of his face.

Falling to the ground, the offender told the victim “I’m going to kill you” before taking his wallet, which contained credit cards, ID and $100, police reports stated.

The most recent episode prior to Corbett’s arrest occurred Monday on the 7500 block of Boyer St. There, a victim walking home from the Devon Street train station was approached from behind by a robber who grabbed both of her arms and pushed her down, causing the back of her head to hit the pavement.

A struggle ensued over victim’s belongings, but the suspect made off with a tan purse containing credit cards, ID and $80 cash.

The charges

Capt. John Fleming, commanding officer of the 14th Police District, said assigning extra officers to the area helped lead to the arrest.

“Our deployment was heavy, but in an inconspicuous way,” he said. “Based off of his M.O., we happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Corbett is being charged with five counts of each of robbery, terroristic threats, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault and reckless endangerment.

He currently has an open court case involving numerous drug charges. According to court records, he has pleaded guilty to other drug charges, along with DUI offenses and motor-vehicle infractions.

Currently being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on $25,000 bail, his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.