A recent rash of business robberies in Arcata has left police on high alert but with few leads as to who is committing these crimes.

In an 10-day span, three businesses were robbed — the Subway in Northtown, the Chevron station on Valley West and the Finnish Country Sauna and Hot Tubs — and someone tried to rob the Quality Inn in the Valley West area.

With the recent spike in robberies, businesses can take measures to better protect themselves from being a target.

Other than a man arrested on suspicion of robbing the Chevron gas station — he was caught on video surveillance — no suspects have been located in the other three recent robberies, Arcata Police Department Chief Randy Mendosa said.

“It’s really a rarity to have so many robberies in our city take place,” he said. “Our stats are kind of getting up there.”

There have been four robberies and an attempted robbery at Arcata businesses in less than two months.

Between March 2006 and March 2007, there was just one robbery, Mendosa said.

One common thread in two of the robberies – and the one attempted – is that a man used pepper spray to threaten employees.

“It’s not unusual for pepper spray to be used as an instrument of fear in a robbery,” he said.

Messages left for owners and managers at the Subway and Finnish Country Sauna and Hot Tubs weren’t returned Thursday. A representative from the Quality Inn said he was instructed by management to give no comment and decline interviews.

When asked whether surveillance cameras captured footage in the unsolved robberies, Mendosa said answering that question may endanger the investigation.

“We do have some evidence we’re processing (that) we’re hopeful will bring some leads,” he said. “I personally don’t comment on evidence we obtain at the scene — we want to prosecute him when we get him.”

When told about the recent robberies, several businesses in Arcata commented on the news.

Across the street from the Subway, Fairwinds Motel owner Al Lukiman expressed concern over the robberies.

“There isn’t too much we can do,” he said.

Unable to afford a security guard for 24-hour protection, Lukiman said he uses surveillance cameras to secure his business.

Down the block at Hey Juan Burritos, owner Stormy McMakin said the business has never been robbed.

Hey Juan employee Andrew Richey attributed the open location and customers for making the shop less of a target.

“We keep regulars around all the time,” he said.

The businesses where robberies occurred, or were attempted, are located away from the center of town.

At Arcata Liquor, employee Chad Meeker said the business’ location on the Arcata Plaza adds more protection from robbery.

“We’ve never been robbed,” he said, adding that in the 50 years of the store’s life, there hasn’t even been an attempt.

Businesses can avoid being targets, Mendosa said, by making improvements in lighting, security and by putting cash registers in places easily seen from outside.

But he emphasized it’s usually not a good idea for employees to fight back, as desperate people tend to commit robberies.

“Cooperate and don’t be a hero,” Mendosa said. “Get a good description and if you see suspicious people hanging out, call the police instead of waiting to see what they’ll do.”

The APD is asking anyone with information that may lead to the identification of the suspect phone the department at 707-822-2428 or the after-hours line at 707-822-2427.

“We’re looking at these cases together,” he said, “the similarities and what we can do to apprehend this person.”