A Hamilton man is facing kidnapping, assault and dangerous driving charges after using a stolen truck to ram a police cruiser during one of several street robberies over the summer, police announced Wednesday.

But once investigators identified a suspect, finding him wasn't an issue – because he was already in custody on other charges.

Detectives started investigating 10 street robberies that had occurred in the city's east end and Mountain areas back in June and July that they suspected were related.

During one incident on July 24, a man approached a victim at the Eastgate Square parking lot and forced him into his car at knifepoint, police say. He then made him drive to an ATM and take out cash.

That same evening, the same man used a stolen GMC Truck to follow a woman in the Stinson neighbourhood, got out, and demanded cash, police say.

The woman screamed, attracting the attention of a nearby police officer who pulled up in a police car, blocking in the truck.

That's when the man jumped back in the GMC and rammed the police cruiser to get away, police say. No one was injured during that attempted robbery.

Over the course of the ten robberies, the suspect stole purses, cash and electronics from people ranging in age from 16 years old to 64-years-old, police say.

Many of the robberies were not announced at the time. "Not much was broadcasted," Const. Steve Welton told CBC News.

"In order to ensure the integrity of specific aspects of the investigation, information was not broadcast in real time."

On Wednesday, police charged a 27-year-old Hamilton man who was already in custody on other charges with a slate of offences including kidnapping, unlawful confinement, assault and the theft of three pickup trucks.

A 21-year-old Hamilton woman was also arrested and charged with two counts of possession of stolen property in connection with the robberies.