Racine Man Who Robbed Kmart Store Caught In Racine, Police Say

A Racine man was charged with armed robbery after he robbed a Caledonia Kmart Store, 5141 Douglas Ave., on Wednesday and then later caught by officers in Racine.

Samuel J. Sanchez Jr., 44, of Racine, was charged with armed robbery, obstructing an officer, and two misdemeanor counts of bail jumping by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday.

If he’s found guilty on all charges, he faces 42 years, three months in prison and fines up to $130,000.

According to the criminal complaint:

A Kmart employee saw Sanchez take a pair of boots and a red dot gun scope. He took off the shoes he was wearing, put the boots on, and then tried to return the gun scope at the customer service desk without a receipt. He then left the store without paying for the boots or the gun scope.

Sanchez was walking towards his white van when he was confronted by an employee about paying for the items. Sanchez told the employee that he had a gun. The employee backed off, and Sanchez got into the van and left.

Officers from the Racine Police Department found Sanchez’s white van later that day in the Lake Avenue parking ramp in Racine. They asked several people in the 200 block of Main Street if they had seen a man matching Sanchez’s description and the employees said they could take a look. Officers found Sanchez hiding behind the Pizza Chef Restaurant.

Sanchez was taken into police custody. He had been out on bail on a misdemeanor theft charge from May.

Inside the van, they found a gun case, which contained two shotguns and live ammunition, and the stolen items.