A man wanted in connection with two rapes in Massachusetts in 1989 was arrested earlier this month after he was found on a luxury yacht in Los Angeles, police said.

Detectives say 71-year-old Stephen Paul Gale went on the run after police said DNA evidence linked him to the rapes.

“He has the money to hire private lawyers, live on a yacht, and drive a Lincoln. But his money won’t help him with our case.

Gale was charged in April with raping at gunpoint two women working in a Framingham clothing store in 1989. He was also charged with kidnapping and armed robbery.

Police believe Gale may have suspected he was being watched at the LA Marina because he was able to speed away from officers who were pursuing him on August 8. Police used spike strips to disable his vehicle and arrested him at the Westwood Medical Plaza.

Authorities want to extradite him to Massachusetts to face trial.

One of Gale’s alleged victims told WCVB-TV she was relieved he had finally been caught.

“I have waited 34 long years for Gale’s arrest,” the woman said. “I was 18 years old when I was raped while working in a clothing store during my winter break from college. It has taken nothing short of incredible detective work and strength from his victims to continue our fight for justice.”

She claimed that Gale had mutilated his fingers to prevent identification and that he had assumed numerous aliases.

“He lives like a king and has no problem walking on a narrow boardwalk over water and driving to avoid arrest for 90 minutes,” she continued. “He has money to hire private attorneys, live on a yacht and drive a Lincoln. But his money won’t help him with our case; we have him with solid DNA evidence and two victims who never forgot his face and (have) never given up on finding him.”

One of the suspect’s neighbors told WCVB he couldn’t believe the allegations, describing improvements he made to his yacht in order to sell it and buy a larger yacht.

“I’m so shocked. I’m completely stunned,” said Don Smollett.

“Everything you can imagine was put new in that boat. Electronics and everything. I couldn’t afford anything they put on that boat. So he had the money to do that,” he added.

“You never know who you’re talking to these days,” Smollett concluded.

Gale was being held on $2 million bail.

Video of the yacht and the police chase of the alleged rapist was posted on YouTube by WCVB-TV.

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