A Valencia couple was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department last week after a spree of bank robberies throughout Southern California, including two in Santa Clarita, officials said.

James Hamill, a 27-year-old Valencia resident, is believed to be responsible for several bank robberies in Southern California over the span of the last two months.

Burbank Police detectives also identified an accomplice to Hamill, who allegedly acted as a getaway driver in at least one of the robberies. She has been identified as 22-year-old Valencia resident Samantha Yaworski, Hamill’s girlfriend.

“The robbery spree began in March of 2018 and spanned about two months, during which two U.S. Bank locations in the City of Burbank were robbed,” said Sgt. Derek Green with the Burbank Police Department.

The first bank robbery in Burbank was on April 20, when a man entered the branch on the 1700 block of W. Olive Avenue and produced a note demanding money.

“A witness inside the bank attempted to detain the suspect, but was unable to,” said Green.

The suspect was armed with a pellet gun resembling a real handgun, which he left behind at the scene.

“The gun was certainly an important piece of evidence,” said Sgt. Green. “However, the gun itself was not what led to his identity.”

Those details are being withheld until the case is closed, he said.

On April 30, at around 2:15 p.m., the same suspect robbed a U.S. Bank branch located on the 200 block of N. San Fernando Boulevard in Burbank, again producing a note demanding money.

Burbank Police Detectives investigating these cases met with investigators from surrounding law enforcement agencies and learned the same suspect was likely responsible for additional bank robberies in Newhall, Valencia, Pico Rivera and the city of Orange, as well as an attempted bank robbery in Van Nuys, officials said.

On May 2, arrest warrants were issued for Hamill and Yaworski, and on May 4, both were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department after they entered a U.S. Bank located in the 10000 block of Riverside Drive, in the City of North Hollywood.

“The two were spotted by bank employees standing in line at the bank, (who) recognized them and called 9-1-1, which led to a fast response from the LAPD,” Green said.

On May 7, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed six counts of robbery in addition to two counts of attempted robbery against Hamill, and one count of attempted robbery against Yaworski.

Hamill remains in custody and is being held on $400,000 bail. Yaworski is being held on $50,000 bail.

They both pled not guilty on May 10 and are expected to return to court May 31, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, they are encouraged to contact Sgt. Derek Green at 818-238-3240.

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