Not exactly Bonnie & Clyde but...

Lompoc police have arrested a man who--as described by Chief of Police Bill Brown--represents the “most prolific robber on the Central Coast in more than a decade.” The man, John Putnam, is charged with robbing 10 banks between the southern SLO County city of Arroyo Grande and Camarillo in western Ventura County in the last 5 months:

Brown announced Thursday that John Putnam, 38, of Lompoc had been arrested on suspicion of robbing 10 banks - from Arroyo Grande to Santa Maria to Port Hueneme - and trying to rob two others, including one in Lompoc.

Putnam was being held Thursday on $137,500 bail in the Lompoc jail on suspicion of bank robbery.

The investigation into these robberies involved upwards of 8 different law enforcement agencies: the police departments of AG, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Port Heuneme, the Santa Barbara and Ventura County Sheriff's as well as the FBI.

Ultimately however, Brown says the difference wasn't law enforcement. Rather, the difference was community co-operation: According to police, a major breakthrough in the case came from a tipster who recognized the suspect in police photos. Pictures taken by bank surveillance cameras showed that the robber usually wore a baseball cap and sunglasses.

“This is a classic case of citizens and police working together,” Brown said.

Putnam apparently was unemployed and living in the Willows Mobile Home Park. Officials weren't clear on the relationship between he and the homeowner.

This was a fairly interesting saga here on the Coast. It's end is a little disappointing almost, at least as far as the drama of it all goes. An unemployed guy living in a trailer park who never pulled a gun just isn't very glamorous.