A man who is believed to be involved in at least nine snatch thefts and robberies in Yishun and Bedok has been arrested.

The victims were all elderly women.

The latest was a 76-year-old woman whose $300 gold chain was snatched by the suspect while she was on the fourth floor of Block 320 Yishun Central at about 1 pm on Wednesday.

Plainclothes cops lying in wait immediately sprung into action and searched for the suspect based on the description of his attire.

A team of officers spotted a man behaving suspiciously at a shopping centre near the crime scene and he matched the description provided by the latest victim.

He was also wearing the victim's gold chain around his neck.

The team moved in and arrested the suspect.

Police believe the suspect could be the same man involved in several robberies and snatch thefts against the elderly in Bedok.

Police said within the past month, several snatch thefts were reported in the Yishun area.

Several women aged between 55 and 85 years had their handbags and jewellery, valued at more than $5,000, snatched by the thief.

The suspect, a 37 year-old unemployed Singaporean man, will be charged in the court on Friday for snatch theft.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years jail and will be caned.

There were 76 robberies and 165 snatch thefts involving elderly victims last year. In the first three months of this year, 27 robberies and 42 snatch thefts were reported.