"OnStar was extremely helpful:" Technology helps police arrest attempted bank robbery suspects
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police say technology and a quick-thinking bank manager prevented a robbery -- and also led to the arrest of four suspects.
Guaranty Bank near 76th & Brown Deer
Officials say the attempted robbery happened at the Guaranty Bank near 76th and Brown Deer Rd. on Friday morning, September 11th. Police say the manager at the bank noticed a man come in, use the bathroom and leave without making a transaction. The manager took note of the car in which the suspicious guy left. A few minutes later, the car was back -- and now two men approached the bank with masks and a bag. The manager locked the doors and called police. The suspects took off.
"Hats off to the employees of the bank and the manager for recognizing suspicious activity and then acting on their beliefs by notifying the police department," said Capt. Johnny Sgrignuoli of the Milwaukee Police Department.
The manager or one of the employees managed to take down a license plate. The plates came back to a car reported stolen in August. The car also had OnStar, which police used to track the suspects to the intersection of 37th and North.
Police found a 25-year-old man, a 29-year-old man, a 36-year-old man, and a 28-year-old woman, all from Milwaukee. Officials say two of the suspects are convicted felons.
This incident was the second in less than a week in which OnStar led Milwaukee police to a stolen car.
"Technology is evolving, as we know, and it is a large part of how we investigate crimes. And in this case, the use of OnStar was extremely helpful," said Sgrignuoli.
While satellite tracking helped in this case, police say old-fashioned awareness gave them a place to start. They credit the bank employees for taking a training course -- and suggest others do the same.
"Their training paid off. They were able to lead us in the right direction and get us to the point where we are preparing charges for the district attorney's office," said Sgrignuoli.
Officials say robbers had targeted the Guaranty Bank in the past. They're still looking into whether these four suspects are responsible for any other unsolved crimes.