A Suffolk police operation involving officers from five different units paid off after a dangerous suspected serial robber was nabbed in Shirley.

Police say they believed after a string of armed robberies of several businesses in the Mastic-Shirley area over the past two months it was the work of one man. Cops say they suspected the serial robber would strike again so they set up an undercover robbery patrol in the area. Police say they spotted a robbery in progress at the same Carvel that was hit two months ago.

Police say the suspect led them on a short pursuit before he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into some trees. Darren Branton, of Shirley, was arrested and is charged with robbery and criminal use of a firearm.