(AP) — Topeka police say a special operations division made several important arrests last year that helped take armed robbers off the streets.

In one case, seven people arrested last year have admitted to committing more than 40 armed robberies in the last six years. The seven were all charged under a federal statute and face long prison sentences.

Police Maj. Mike Haugen, the commander of the special operations division, says his division also helped break up a multistate robbery crew that hit Topeka. He says five people were involved in that ring, and they are all in federal custody. They are accused of robbing a Family Dollar and EZ Payday Advance in Topeka, as well as robberies throughout the Midwest and in Utah.