Updated on June 2, 10:30 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 19-year-old wanted for a string of commercial robberies and burglaries in the city and surrounding suburbs has been caught and arrested, and police said they’re looking for his alleged accomplice.
Marcos Neto is one of two suspects police said were responsible for nearly a dozen burglaries at businesses in North and Northeast Philadelphia.
The most recent incident was on May 24 in Olney.
Authorities said Neto robbed Shauna’s Restaurant and Banquet Hall, holding the owner at gunpoint in front of her three young children.
“You’re gonna pull a gun in front of my children at me? I work so hard,” the owner told NBC10 after the robbery.
That was one of nearly a dozen robberies Neto was accused of committing in Philadelphia, including a February robbery at Royal Car Center in Northeast Philly and burglaries of at least eight other businesses in the Northeast earlier this month.
Philadelphia police Capt. John Craig said that in some of the cases, Neto had help.
"There is still an outstanding individual in reference to the burglaries whom detectives are diligently looking to identify," he said. "In addition to that, detectives are reviewing recent incidents within both the Northeast and Northwest divisions as well as our neighboring jurisdictions to see if this individual could be involved in any other incidents."
Authorities in Montgomery County said they have also been looking for him for weeks in connection with at least two more robberies. Police obtained an arrest warrant for him in early April.
Law enforcement in Cheltenham Township initially didn’t realize their suspect was also wanted in a string of robberies in Philadelphia. Investigators said they were able to identify Neto as the suspect because he wore the same clothes during some of the robberies.
Authorities said there is no evidence of a gun being used in every robbery, just in some recent incidents in Philadelphia.
According to investigators, Neto is deaf and only communicates through Portuguese sign language.
Neto is charged with robbery, multiple commercial burglaries and related gun offenses.
The second suspect is still on the loose. Anyone with information should contact police.