Police nab 3 linked in robbery spree

Police said Wednesday they made a major break in the investigation of a recent spate of takeover robberies that have plagued Oakland businesses and rattled residents' nerves.

Two men and a woman were in jail after being arrested Tuesday night when police responded to an armed robbery at a nail salon.

Detectives said Leon Luster, 22, Rashaan Lamonthe, 30, Shante Bostic, 20, were responsible for that holdup and at least three others -- part of the rash of more than a dozen that have taken place in Oakland over the past month.

Investigators responding to the nail salon robbery Tuesday night stopped a car blocks away from the scene. A search found two ski masks, a loaded weapon and more than $200 in cash that police believe was taken from the nail salon, according to Jeffrey Israel, Oakland police deputy investigations chief.

Police said they have evidence linking all three suspects to three other August takeover robberies at Oakland restaurants. But they declined to provide details, saying it would compromise their ongoing investigation.