ARCATA, Calif. (Map, News) - Police in the Humboldt County community of Arcata are trying to determine if the same person is behind a recent spate of robberies involving pepper spray.

In the latest of three incidents, a Subway Sandwich shop was held up Wednesday by a man in his mid-20s brandishing a can of pepper spray.

On Sunday, an attempted motel robbery by a man with a can of pepper spray was thwarted when the clerk ducked into an office and locked the door.

Late last month, a sauna and tub store was held up when a man fitting a similar description brandished a can of pepper spray and told employees to empty the cash register.

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Information from: Times-Standard, http://www.times-standard.com