TUCSON, Ariz. -- A man has been arrested and accused of swindling $2.5 million from six women whom he met in bars and casinos over the past four years, Scottsdale police said.

Theodore Leombroni, 47, of Tucson, is being held on $200,000 bond.

One of the victims tipped off police on Friday that Leombroni had approached her to ask to invest in a patent he had pending on an automobile safety device.

Police detectives followed up and learned at least six women in the Valley and Tucson had been approached by Leombroni.

"He's typically targeting women that are 20 years older than him," said Officer Dave Pubins of the Scottsdale Police Department. "He may even play on their emotional strings by telling them a sob story about himself but he's talking about his investments that he's needing additional income and funds for."

Each of the women said that Leombroni used the same scheme, police said. He also told them that he was investing in coal mines outside of the United States, detectives said.

Officers said Leombroni fraudulently took $1.5 million from a single victim.

Leombroni previously was convicted of fraud schemes in 1994 from Cochise County and spent two years in prison.

He has also admitted that he has a gambling addiction, police said.

People who believe they may have been victimized by the man should call the Scottsdale Police Department at 480-312-5000.