WESTBROOK – An Old Orchard Beach man was charged Wednesday with two counts of armed robbery after a string of holdups in the Portland and Biddeford areas that police said was motivated by a need for money to buy drugs.

A Biddeford man who allegedly served as an accomplice in at least two of the robberies also was arrested Wednesday, police said.

The suspects were identified by police as Jason Bridges, 24, and his accomplice, Nicholas Laudermilk, 20.

The series of nighttime robberies began Thursday at Mike’s Pool Street Market in Biddeford and continued Friday at Angelone’s Pizza in Westbrook and Saturday at the Pizza Hut on Auburn Street in Portland.

“These guys were on a tear, day after day,” Westbrook Police Chief Steven Roberts said.

The holdups also were linked to an aborted robbery Monday involving a night bank deposit in Saco, the chief said.

In the Westbrook holdup, the robber entered Angelone’s with a bandanna over his face, pointed a gun at the clerk and owner, demanded money and fled with the night’s receipts.

Evidence collected at the scene and subsequent tips led police to a home in Westbrook where police uncovered the pellet gun used in the holdup and the bank deposit bag in which the cash had been placed.

Investigators later linked the robbery to holdups in Biddeford and Portland and the aborted robbery in Saco.

Bridges was being held at the Cumberland County Jail after his initial appearance Wednesday in Portland District Court.

Laudermilk was arrested Wednesday and was awaiting charges in the Portland and Biddeford holdups, Roberts said.