AUSTIN -- An Austin woman has been arrested in connection to three Austin bank robberies throughout the month of May, court documents state.
According to an arrest affidavit for 43-year-old Tina Renee Lopez, police responded to the first reported robbery on May 4 around 5:09 p.m. at the Chase bank on 9901 North Lamar Blvd. The 9-1-1 caller stated that a woman came in and gave a teller several notes that stated something similar to "Give me all the money you have, this is serious," and, "Look at me, this is serious, I am going that way, call 9-1-1, please help me, give me everything." The teller then gave the suspect cash from the bank drawer and she left the scene.
Police said the second robbery attempt was reported on May 10 around 4:13 p.m. at the Wells Fargo at 2326 South Congress Ave. The affidavit states Lopez had given the teller a note stating "I really need your help, please call 9-1-1 for me, my kids, they are in danger," and, "My kids, they are in danger. I need your money. They will kill my kids. 1000 Lamar." When stopping to call 9-1-1, reports state the teller stopped to tell another that the bank was being robbed, went to call police and noticed that the suspect had left the bank.
The third robbery was reported on May 11 at approximately 6:40 p.m. at the Velocity Credit Unit located at 4220 South Lamar Blvd. The victim reported that the suspect gave him a note similar to the robbery reported on May 10 and that she said somebody was watching them and indicated that person might be in the parking lot or lobby. At this point, documents state the victim pushed the alarm button and gave the suspect cash.
Police said the suspect was described as a white female with black hair wearing jeans, knee-high boots and a red shirt. Documents state the suspect in this instance matched the description of the prior reported robberies based on surveillance images, though it is believed the suspect was wearing a blonde wig during the Wells Fargo robbery.
The affidavit states that police were tipped off that the suspect was located in the area of Oltorf and South First Street, where she was later found and detained. Police said that once detained, she admitted to all three robbery attempts and said no kids were in danger. A sack of money wrapped in a bank wrapper and the approximate amount of money taken from the Velocity Credit Union were found in her purse, police said.
Lopez was charged with robbery by threat, a second-degree felony. Her bond was set at $25,000.
