Suspect Arrested After Robbing Credit Union While on GPS Monitoring

RACINE -- Police linked an armed robbery suspect to the crime this week after learning that the suspect was wearing his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet from a previous armed robbery case.

On January 5, Racine responded to the Landmark Credit Union, 3413 Rapids Dr. in Racine on a report of an armed robbery.

Police learned from an eyewitness that a suspect arrived at the bank just before 10 a.m., and entered through the security doors without triggering the metal detector alarm.

According to his criminal complaint, the suspect approached the service counter while wearing a gray hoodie reflective safety vest, black pants, black shoes and a black-and-white striped scarf over his face, the criminal complaint stated.

According to police, he approached the counter, stated he wanted to make a deposit, and then pointed a firearm at the clerk's face as he demanded money. Security footage was retrieved from the credit union, showing the suspect and the $7,500 in cash that was handed to the suspect.

According to the criminal complaint, an anonymous tipster informed police that the suspect in this robbery case was none other than Renault Griffin, Jr. When police investigated the case, they learned that Griffin was wearing his GPS monitoring bracelet. Upon a review of the GPS tracking information, it showed that he was present at the Landmark Credit Union at the time of the incident.

Court records show that Griffin had been charged with armed robbery, substantial battery, burglary and fale imprinsonment in an open case from 2014, in addition to a hit-and-run charge from April 2016.

Griffin was taken into custody on Jan. 7. At the time of his arrest, police found $2,366 in cash that matched the serial number related to the Landmark Credit Union.

Police also found 0.3 grams of cocaine on Griffin, as well as several new items that were recently purchased. According to his complaint, Griffin admitted to the Landmark Credit Union robbery on Jan. 5 and stated he used a BB gun during the armed robbery itself. Griffin told police he used the money from the robbery to purchase drugs, a rental car, jackets, clothing and shoes, his complaint stated.

He is currently being held in the Racine County Jail on a $30,000 cash bond. He faces charges of robbery of a financial institution, posession of cocaine, felony bail jumping and misdemeanor bail jumping, all as a repeater.

He faces more than 28 years behind bars if he is convicted of the maximum charges associated with his two felony counts. He faces additional incarceration time because he is charged as a repeater.

>>> image via patch.com / booking photo via Racine County Jail