Bank robber’s demand note left crucial clue

6 — Scratch paper with the same company logo that appeared on a bank robber’s demand note and a Crime Stoppers tip helped lead to the FBI’s arrest of a man suspected of robbing two Vista banks last month.

Andrew Harris, 25, is accused in a federal court complaint filed Friday of robbing Pacific Western Bank on South Melrose Drive in Vista on May 12, and of a May 31 heist at a Citibank across the street.

In an unrelated case, Harris was arrested by Carlsbad police Wednesday and booked into Vista jail on counts of burglary, drug possession and identity theft, according to the jail website.

According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in San Diego, the bank robber gave tellers demand notes for cash during both heists. In the second robbery, the demand note was written on a piece of scratch paper with “Rapid Transmissions” printed on top, the complaint said.

When Harris was arrested by Carlsbad police, officers found two plastic tubs containing clothing, computer equipment, documents and other items, including a scratch pad for Rapid Transmissions.

An FBI agent interviewed Harris on Wednesday at the Vista jail. He initially denied but later confessed to robbing both banks, saying he was high on heroin at the time of both heists, the complaint said. Authorities had also received an anonymous tip that Harris was a suspect in one of the heists.

Harris remained jailed Saturday on a federal hold.