ADEBIMPE

PROVIDENCE — The police on Saturday arrested the man they suspect is responsible for gas station and convenience store holdups in at least 13 communities in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Detectives from several departments started comparing notes from their robberies — all by a man wearing a mask and a camouflage jacket, said Providence Maj. Thomas Oates. Last week, East Providence Detective Cpl. Michael Petow and Sgt. Diogo Mello came up with a name for the “camouflage robber” — Idris Adebimpe, 27, a Providence resident free on 17 years’ probation after serving time for robbery in Providence.

The “camouflage robber,” sometimes brandishing a knife, came away with cash and cigarettes and once made off with the cash register from a Federal Hill convenience store. He was persistent, the police said, even though he once fled empty-handed from a 7-Eleven in Providence after the clerks pulled off his mask and beat him with a bat.

“We think he was just using [the cash] to pay bills,” said East Providence police Maj. Donald Dubois.

On Saturday, the police said, officers were following Adebimpe when he drove to Warwick and appeared to be casing a Getty station there. Then, according to the police, he drove to Wakefield, several times driving past a Valero station on Route 1 before the trailing officers lost him.

While they were trying to find him again, the police said, the Valero station was held up by a man wearing a camouflage jacket.

That night, Adebimpe, who livees at 18 Comstock Ave., was arrested by the Providence police. The next day, the police said, a search of his apartment netted two cash register drawers, still containing receipts, and $1,086 in additional cash.

Adebimpe was charged by the Providence police with second-degree robbery, assault with intent to commit robbery and two counts of first-degree robbery, and by the East Providence police with first-degree robbery. He was taken to District Court, Providence, where he was ordered taken to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

The police said he is being investigated in connection with other holdups, Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Johnston, South Kingstown, Lincoln and North Providence and in Attleboro, Seekonk, and Swansea, Mass.

amilkovi@projo.com