Regional Investigations Unit detectives have charged a 23 year old man after several armed incidents overnight.

It will be alleged at 6.50pm, the man attended the Yangebup Shopping Centre armed with a black handgun. He approached a 31 year old woman sitting in her car and banged on the

window with the gun, she drove off and contacted police. He then approached a 36 year old woman who was sitting in her car. He opened the car

door waving the gun at her and telling her to get out. She refused as her child was in the car and as the man moved around the car towards the passenger side she drove off.

The offender then pointed the gun at a 58 year old man who was walking through the car park, telling him to keep on walking.

The offender then approached a 43 year old man sitting in his car and threatened him with the gun. The victim gave him his keys to his Toyota Echo and the offender fled in the car.

He drove to a video store located on Canning Highway Applecross. He threatened the female staff member, firing a blank round into the ceiling before stealing the till and fleeing in the

stolen car. A short time later he drove to a liquor store located on Canning Hwy Palmyra where he  threatened a female staff member with the gun, demanding money. He was given some

money before he fled in the stolen car. Regional Investigations Unit detectives spotted him driving west along Canning Highway in

Palmyra. He was stopped on Fothergill Street Fremantle with the assistance of Fremantle Police, Murdoch Detectives and the South Metropolitan District Crime Team.

He has been charged with three counts of Armed Robbery; two counts of Attempted Armed Robbery and one count of Possess a Controlled Weapon with Intent to Cause Fear.

He will appear in the Fremantle Magistrates Court today.