OAKLAND -- Two retail outlets on San Pablo Avenue became the latest victims of a spreading wave of “takeover” robberies, police told KTVU Friday.

The most recent of the two robberies took place Wednesday at Ecohome Improvement.

Taja Di Leonardi, Ecohome owner, described the robber as about 6’ 2”, with a ski mask and a revolver.

She said the man was not satisfied even after she gave him money from her register, so he proceeded to rob a customer before demanded money from her purse. She told him the purse was upstairs, and while walking that direction, she bolted out the door.

“I ran out of the gate,” she said. “I jumped and hopped a series of fences to go to a neighboring business and called 911.”

Di Leonardi said that a handful of her employees were in the back and were robbed by the man before he ran off.

Berkeley police say the bandits have followed a pattern in choosing the locations of their heists.

“The location is somewhere where they have an easy escape route,” said Berkeley Police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss, “near a freeway or a large street or somewhere where they can walk out… and easily tuck themselves in and not be easily caught,” she said.

Down the street from Ecohome Improvement, the Famous Foam Factory, a futon and furniture store, was robbed in a similar manner the day before.

Police say the lone gunman also robbed three people inside that store of personal belongings.

Berkeley Police say they are working with Oakland and Emeryville Police to compare notes about all the recent takeover-style robberies.

“Oakland may know something we don’t know,” said Kusmiss. “We may have a piece of the puzzle they don’t know.”

“Together,” she said, “we can put this series to rest.”

Thursday night in East Oakland, a clerk at a mom-and-pop store fought back against a robber. When two men walked in and tried to rob the store at gunpoint, one worker pulled out a gun, shooting and injuring one of the robbers.

Friday night, another Oakland business owner, who spoke to KTVU on the condition that her anonymity be protected, said that she has begun taking precautions, recently purchasing a firearm. She said her offices have been burglarized several times.

“I literally thought of putting Velcro under the desk and just having [the gun] there,” she said, “Velcroing the pistol to the desk so I can use it.”

Berkeley Police said solving one of the many takeover robbery cases will likely lead to solving most of the others.

Investigators are asking the public to be vigilant and call police if they witness any suspicious activity.

Call Anonymous Crime Stoppers Hotline At 510-777-8572 or 510-777-3211