Man arrested in Durham Christmas tree lot robberies

Authorities said Howard Zelodis McBroom, 48, is charged with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of felony conspiracy in connection with the three incidents.

Police said that on Dec. 10, two men armed with a knife and a gun robbed employees at a lot on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard and took a cash box, phone and iPad.

On Dec. 11, a man armed with a screwdriver took cash from an employee at a lot on Vivian Street and, later that day, a man armed with a knife attempted to rob employees at a tree lot on West Club Boulevard, but the employees had no cash.