A bank robber and his getaway driver have been caught after carrying out a string of heists across Northern California, authorities said Wednesday.
Antioch residents Brandon Lopez, 37, and 43-year-old Tamara Bush are linked to at least six bank robberies or attempted robberies in San Jose, Modesto, Milpitas, Fremont and Sacramento, the San Jose Police Department said.
Detectives caught the pair’s trail after a bank robbery in San Jose on Feb. 12.
In that robbery, a male suspect entered the bank and passed a note to the teller, demanding money, according to authorities.
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Brandon Lopez, 37, and Tamara Bush, 43, were both arrested on robbery charges. (San Jose Police Department)
The note read: “I need all the money in both your drawers. Be quick. No games.”
Lopez allegedly passed notes to bank tellers demanding money during the robberies. This note was used during a bank heist in San Jose. (San Jose Police Department)
The suspect got away with over $1,000 in cash.
Investigators identified the primary suspect as Lopez, connecting him to the other five bank robberies across Northern California, where he also allegedly passed a note to the teller demanding money.
Bush was identified as the getaway driver for all six robberies, police said.
Police said a loaded gun and ammunition were found at Lopez’s residence during the execution of a search warrant last week. (San Jose Police Department)
Authorities executed a search warrant on Lopez’s home in Antioch on March 6. While searching the residence, police discovered an unregistered loaded Glock firearm and ammunition.
Both Lopez and Bush were taken into custody and booked into Santa Clara County Mail Jail for robbery charges. Both suspects are awaiting additional charges in other counties.
