Couple charged in string of Upstate robberies

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Deputies have charged a northern Greenville County husband and wife in connection with three convenience store robberies.

According to Greenville County Sheriff's Office investigators, the robberies occurred Tuesday morning in the southern end of the county. The first robbery happened at the QuikTrip on Grove Road around 2:45 a.m. Less than an hour later, the 7-Eleven on Augusta Road in Moonville was robbed, and then around 6:30 a.m., the Sav-Way on Piedmont Highway was also robbed.

In all three incidents, the suspect was described as a heavyset, white female wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants. The woman implied that she had a gun in her pocket, demanding money from the store clerks, deputies said.

Investigators said information obtained regarding the robberies, suspect and suspect vehicle was relayed to surrounding counties, and about an hour later Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies notified the Greenville County Sheriff's Office that they were following the vehicle.

Greenville County deputies responded to the area and met with Anderson County deputies at a gas station on Bessie Road, where they had the vehicle stopped.

After questioning the vehicle's occupants, Greenville County deputies charged 40-year-old Traci Lynn Tate and her husband, 53-year old Stephen Mark Tate, with two counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery, and three counts of conspiracy.

The Tates are currently being held at the Greenville County Detention Center after a judge denied bond for each of them.

No injuries were reported in the robberies, investigators said.