A man who may be responsible for five "takeover"-style robberies of businesses in Berkeley and three in Oakland was arrested this week, Berkeley police said.

"As of two days ago, there's a person of interest in custody who was arrested by the Oakland police," Berkeley Police Officer Andrew Frankel told Berkeley residents during a community crime meeting at San Pablo Park Wednesday night.

In several instances, the man has robbed many people at once who were in a business at the time of the robbery, police said.

The crime spree began April 15 with a robbery at Famous Foam Factory at San Pablo Avenue and Channing Way in Berkeley and was followed the next day by a robbery at Eco Home Improvement on San Pablo a few blocks away. Two days later he robbed the Good Vibrations store at San Pablo Avenue and Dwight Way.

Since then police believe he is responsible for two other Berkeley takeover robberies at New Economy Laundry on Sacramento street and a Subway sandwich store on University Avenue near San Pablo Avenue.

He also may have robbed a bicycle shop and two adult book stores in Oakland, Berkeley police said.

Frankel said the case has taken up plenty of manpower because in each instance there have been several victims who must be interviewed. During the Good Vibrations robbery, there were at least 30 patrons in the store attending a seminar, Frankel said.

Police believe the man is acting independently of a group who robbed

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eight restaurants and their customers in Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and San Leandro late last month.

Oakland Police Lt. Freddie Hamilton, who also was at the community crime meeting in Berkeley Wednesday night, declined to provide further details beyond what Berkeley police announced about the arrest.