SCRANTON – The man arrested for a pair of robberies in Scranton and Old Forge on Monday, Feb. 13 lived across the street from the scene of the first crime, according to police.

Scranton Police Chief Dan Duffy and Old Forge Police Chief Lawrence Semenza jointly announced the arrest of Mark Novack, 38, of South Main Avenue, Scranton, on Friday for those robberies

Novack allegedly admitted to detectives from the departments that he was responsible for the robbery at a Sunoco in the 1200 block of South Main Ave., Scranton, at about 1:27 a.m. on Feb. 13 and another at a convenient market at 410 N. Main Ave., Old Forge, at 10:40 that night.

During the Old Forge robbery, Novack allegedly showed the clerk a knife. The clerk retaliated, hitting him several times with a table leg stored behind the counter, according to Semenza.

Police released surveillance photos of Novack this week, but Semenza said a tip that led to his arrest was received from the public prior to the release of those photos.

“This apprehension would not have been possible had it not been for the cooperative relationship that Old Forge borough has with other departments, including Scranton police,” Duffy said. “Had it not been for the Old Forge police, this investigation never would have went in the direction that it did.”

Novak was arrested at about 1 p.m. on Friday, Duffy said. In all, he is expected to be charged with six counts of armed robbery and two counts each of theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault, and reckless endangerment.

Details on Novack’s arraignment and preliminary hearing were not available at press time.