Armed Robbers Caught After Stopping at Local Strip Club

Two men who police say were on a motorcycle and wearing masks are accused of robbing a man at gunpoint in Upper Saucon and are now facing felony charges after Upper Saucon and Salisbury Township police caught them at a nearby strip club. 

Brian Gabriel Lopez, 21, and Philip Shawn Zampirri, 26, of Quakertown are charged with felony robbery, felony criminal conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking and simple assault after the two allegedly held a third man at gunpoint. 

According to a criminal complaint, the victim was parking his car at the Peppercorn Pub at Route 309 and Passer Road Thursday when two men on a motorcycle and wearing ski masks pulled up near the car to ask directions.

When the man got out of the car to help, the rear passenger got off the back of the motorcycle and pointed a gun at him. The man then passed the "black-colored handgun" to the other man. 

The men escorted the victim to his car, where he retrieved approximately $50. 

Police called to investigate the crime spotted a dark blue motorcycle in the parking lot of the nearby Silhouettes Showbar, 111 E. Station Ave. in Coopersburg, shortly after the robbery. Salisbury Township police assisted.

The complaint says police found a ski mask and the handgun with the motorcycle, and a second ski mask was found inside with clothing belonging to one of the men. 

After talking to the strip club's doorman and reviewing security footage, police were able to identify Zampirri and Lopez as suspects in the armed robbery. While talking to police, the men admitted to wearing ski masks on the motorcycle, and Lopez admitted to driving the motorcycle. 

Both were remanded to prison in lieu of $200,000 bail. Their preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 28.