PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Police arrested a man believed to be responsible for multiple robberies in North Oakland.

Ray Searles, 49, is in police custody after attempting to rob a building at the 300 block of Melwood Street. He suspected to be a known serial burglar from the North Side.

Police say Searles is no stranger to crime. They say he has a record of burglarizing homes in the North Oakland, North Side, Shadyside and Friendship areas dating back to 2004.

He’s even served time in prison before.

Officers met with witnesses at the scene, who described the suspect and reported the suspect was walking down Melwood Avenue toward Baum Boulevard.

“I saw a guy going through a back window of the apartment that was being burglarized,” witness Will Sabol said. “I thought it was suspicious so I called 911.”

Officers checked the area and found Searles at Gold Way and Baum Boulevard.

Police say Searles likes to target places with fire escapes and windows and that he has even taunted victims before. He committed other burglaries on Jan. 30 and March 17.

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