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<p>PITTSTON &#8212; When asked how he supported himself, Joseph Lombardo offered the court only one word: &#8220;Rob.&#8221;</p><p>Just hours after he allegedly robbed a Uni-Mart in Hilldale, local police Tuesday arrested Lombardo, 39, in connection with two other armed robberies in the Pittston area.</p><p>At Lombardo&#8217;s arraignment in Pittston before District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz, Luzerne County Detective James Noone said Lombardo, a West Pittston resident, had been nabbed in Wilkes-Barre earlier that day after he fled from city police, who had been seen swarming a residence on South Franklin Street.</p><p>According to police, Lombardo is the prime suspect in four other recent robberies in addition to the one at Uni-Mart:</p><p>&#8226; Golden Star Chinese Restaurant, 1000 block of Main Street on Thursday, Jan. 21</p><p>&#8226; Tobacco Road, 120 Laurel Plaza on Friday, Jan. 22</p><p>&#8226; Curry Donuts, 561 North Main Street in Pittston on Saturday, Jan. 23</p><p>&#8226; Hanover Beverage, 1045 South Main Street in Hanover Township on Monday, Jan. 25</p><p>Noone said charges are expected but have yet to be filed in connection with the robberies in Avoca and Hanover Township.</p><p>Police had sought and obtained a warrant Tuesday morning for Lombardo&#8217;s arrest in connection with three of the robberies &#8212; during which he allegedly brandished a handgun and in one case struck a cashier &#8212; as well as charges of reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, all stemming from a police pursuit Monday.</p><p>Authorities said Lombardo allegedly led officers from multiple departments on a high-speed chase that morning after they tried to arrest him on a warrant for other charges. According to an affidavit, when officers confronted Lombardo and another man parked inside a gold SUV outside his Exeter Avenue residence, Lombardo uttered an expletive at the officers before fleeing the scene in the vehicle.</p><p>Police found the vehicle at approximately 11:40 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hitchner Building in West Pittston and towed it. Officers spoke with Lombardo&#8217;s brother, who allegedly told them that his girlfriend dropped his brother off somewhere near the Delaware Water Gap.</p><p>During his preliminary arraignment, Lombardo interrupted Kokura Kravitz at times and was warned to keep his composure in the court. When the issue of bail came up, Lombardo suggested $200,000.</p><p>&#8220;Whatever you want to do,&#8221; Lombardo said, later adding, &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna run, just so you know.&#8221;</p><p>Lombardo also told the court he had been using both heroin and cocaine. He also claimed to be homeless, adding that the &#8220;Luzerne County jail&#8221; is his home. Kokura Kravitz denied Lombardo bail in all four cases.</p><p>A little over four hours before his arrest, police had responded to a report of a robbery at the Uni-Mart on North Main Street in Hilldale.</p><p>State police Capt. James Degnan confirmed a robbery had taken place but didn&#8217;t provide further details. Officers from Plains and Jenkins Townships were also on scene, and a state police helicopter was seen flying near the store moments before a Times Leader reporter arrived.</p><p>Police released a screen grab from the store&#8217;s surveillance camera depicting the suspect as a white man with a beard, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and a ball cap. Police at the scene declined to say whether they believed the man to be Lombardo.</p><p>Karen Kane, 59, was working behind the cash register at the time of the robbery.</p><p>She explained that the suspect entered the store and eventually asked her for a pack of cigarettes from behind the counter. He then left the store to return to his vehicle to get more money, as she said that he claimed to not have enough for the cigarettes.</p><p>Kane said the man then reentered to the store and allowed her to ring up the other customers as he made a cup of coffee.</p><p>&#8220;As soon as they (customers) left, he pointed the gun at me and said, &#8216;Forget it, give me the money in the register,&#8217;&#8221; Kane said.</p><p>Kane said the man then went around the counter with the gun still pointed at her as she opened the register. She said that the man took money from the register and then left the store. She then locked the door to the store and called police.</p><p>The criminal complaint also alleges that Lombardo made off with two &#8220;Glass Love Roses&#8221;, along with a pack of cigarettes and a pack of loose tobacco.</p><p>&#8220;I was terrified, but he said he wasn&#8217;t going to hurt me,&#8221; Kane said. When asked if she believed him, Kane said that she told the man &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re right.&#8221;</p><p>Kane said it was the first time she was ever the victim of an armed robbery in her 18-year tenure at the store. Despite the traumatic experience, Kane said the experience wouldn&#8217;t keep her from returning to work.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to be back to work tomorrow, just like normal,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Lombardo is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Joseph D. Spagnuolo Jr. at 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 2. He is also scheduled for three on Feb. 3 &#8212; one before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Carmody at 9 a.m., and two before Kokura Kravitz at 9:30 a.m. Citing the scheduling, Kokura Kravitz said the hearings could be rescheduled accordingly.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A police officer displays a screen grab from the Hilldale Uni-Mart&#8217;s surveillance system depecting the suspect in the store&#8217;s robbery Tuesday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_5B471C70-A960-47FF-B113-E8426A3E08DC36A15F82-4360-49F9-9EA6-06894A73B2E4201612695956499-16.jpg</photo0><caption0>A police officer displays a screen grab from the Hilldale Uni-Mart&#8217;s surveillance system depecting the suspect in the store&#8217;s robbery Tuesday morning. </caption0><photoCredit0>Travis Kellar | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_548EFAB1-32A6-4167-895A-D2B39079653DB77D0985-DBAD-4107-97EF-A9E93BEBF964-10.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A Plains Township patrol car guards the entrance to UniMart Tuesday morning after a robbery at the store. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_548EFAB1-32A6-4167-895A-D2B39079653DB77D0985-DBAD-4107-97EF-A9E93BEBF964-10.jpg</photo1><caption1>A Plains Township patrol car guards the entrance to UniMart Tuesday morning after a robbery at the store. </caption1><photoCredit1>Travis Kellar | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012716robber1-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre police Detective Joe Coffay searches an area after a short police chase from South Main Street to the rear of a residence at 419 S. Franklin St. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012716robber1-4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wilkes-Barre police Detective Joe Coffay searches an area after a short police chase from South Main Street to the rear of a residence at 419 S. Franklin St. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012716robber2-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre police search along a South Franklin Street building after a short police chase from South Main Street to the rear of a residence at 419 S. Franklin St. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012716robber2-4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Wilkes-Barre police search along a South Franklin Street building after a short police chase from South Main Street to the rear of a residence at 419 S. Franklin St. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_web1_Lombardo-9.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lombardo </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_web1_Lombardo-9.jpg</photo4><caption4>Lombardo </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_robberysuspect-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Robbery suspect in police custody being led to his arraignment at Pittston city hall on Tuesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_robberysuspect-3.jpg</photo5><caption5>Robbery suspect in police custody being led to his arraignment at Pittston city hall on Tuesday. </caption5><photoCredit5>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Interim news editor Thomas Moriarty and courts reporter Joe Dolinsky contributed to this story. Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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Updated: Police arrest Joe Lombardo on charges from Pittston robberies