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OAKLAND -- Five teenagers suspected of committing multiple street robberies in Oakland and Piedmont were arrested Thursday evening after a police chase ended on Lakeshore Avenue, authorities said.

The youths, all believed to be 16 years old, are suspected of committing a strong-arm robbery Thursday evening in Piedmont, and other robberies within Oakland over the past two days, police said.

Oakland police later spotted the car believed to be used in the robberies in East Oakland and chased the driver and his passengers to the 2200 block of Lakeshore Avenue, along on the east side of Lake Merritt.

The pursuit ended at about 7 p.m. A large number of Oakland police officers then shut down Lakeshore at Brooklyn Avenue, and from a helicopter loudspeaker police warned residents in the densely-populated neighborhoods along and above Lakeshore Avenue to remain inside as they searched for suspects.

A K9 officer also using a speaker warned remaining suspects to surrender or "the dog will find you." All five teenagers were in police custody within a couple of hours.

Piedmont police Capt. Jeremy Bowers said the juveniles are suspected of robbing a woman of her cell phone in the 100 block of Estates Drive off Park Boulevard. The robbers punched the woman before taking the phone, he said. No weapons were seen.


Piedmont police linked the car to the robbery, which was reported at 6:45 p.m., based on a license plate provided by the victim and by using the city's license plate readers which registered the car entering and exiting Piedmont around the time of the robbery.

Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this story. David DeBolt covers breaking news. Contact him in Oakland at 510-208-6453. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.