Police, US Marshals Arrest Alleged County Serial Bank Robbers

A joint operation between San Jose police and the U.S. Marshals Service led to the arrest of two suspected serial bank robbers last month, a San Jose police sergeant said Thursday.

The robberies occurred at four banks in San Jose, Milpitas and Campbell between Sept. 20 and Dec. 4 last year, San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol said.

Investigators at San Jose, Milpitas and Campbell police departments concluded the robberies were committed by two suspects, Oscar Radillo, 24, and Alvaro Hernandez Santillan, who are cousins, Randol said.

After the fourth robbery, at Comerica Bank at 1289 S. Park Victoria Ave. in Milpitas on Dec. 4, Radillo fled to Indiana, according to Randol. Santillan remained local, she said.

Police in San Jose coordinated with the U.S. Marshals and arrested the two suspects without incident on Dec. 20. Santillan was arrested in San Jose, while Radillo was arrested in Sullivan County, Ind., according to Randol.

Santillan was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail and was later charged with two counts of robbery, Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office spokesman Sean Webby said. He is scheduled to appear in court for a plea hearing on Jan. 27.

Webby said Santillan faces up to six years in jail if convicted. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Radillo was booked into Sullivan County jail in Indiana on suspicion of robbery. He is currently awaiting extradition to California, Randol said.

The first robbery occurred at Wells Fargo Bank at 360 N. Capitol Ave. in San Jose; the second at Comerica Bank at 5601 Silver Creek Valley Road in San Jose on Nov. 15; and the third at First Bank at 790 E. Campbell Ave. in Campbell on Nov. 27.

Anyone with information about the robberies has been asked to call (408) 277-4166, or anonymously at (408) 947-7867.

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