Police have arrested and charged a man following robberies in Burwood and Maroubra earlier in the month.

About 4:50pm, Friday 13 April 2012, a man entered a shopping centre in Burwood and allegedly stole a pair of sunglasses from a kiosk.

Police will allege the man then entered a shoe shop and threatened a female employee with a knife before being handed cash from the register and fleeing the scene.

About 9:05am, Tuesday 17 April 2012, the man entered a computer games store inside a shopping centre on Anzac Parade, Maroubra.

Once inside the shop the man allegedly approached the manager and demanded he hand over cash from the register.

He was handed cash and allegedly forced the manager into a store room before fleeing the scene.

Police from Burwood and Eastern Beaches Local Area Commands commenced investigations into the robberies and reviewed CCTV footage from the businesses.

About 2:50pm yesterday (Wednesday 18 April 2012) police were patrolling Maroubra Road, Maroubra when they recognised the man sitting on a bench outside a restaurant.

The 27-year-old local man was arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with larceny, robbery and robbery armed with an offensive implement.

He was refused bail to appear in Waverley Local Court today (Thursday 19 April 2012).