Prosecutors say Christopher Robbins, one of two men indicted after a burglary spree that hit more than two dozen local businesses last fall, got out of jail on bond with a court-ordered ankle monitor, then cut it off and vanished. A review of court records and interviews by the I-Team shows Robbins' release has left business owners and the county prosecutor frustrated and asking how the system let him slip away, even as the criminal case crawls through the courts.
According to FOX 8 Cleveland, court records reviewed by the station show Robbins was released from jail on bond and placed on an electronic ankle monitor. Prosecutors told the station he later severed the device and is now the subject of an active arrest warrant. FOX 8 Cleveland also reports Robbins and a second man were indicted last fall on allegations they burglarized more than two dozen businesses across the region, and notes a court spokesperson declined to comment on the pending case.
Per FOX 8 Cleveland, victim Tim Bozak said he is "waiting for justice" and hopes Robbins will be caught again. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley told the station Robbins' release on bond was "predictable and preventable," and prosecutors say they are pursuing any new leads that suggest Robbins committed additional crimes while out on bond.
Ankle Monitoring Under Scrutiny
The case has turned a harsh spotlight on how county monitoring programs actually work and who is watching the alerts. News 5 Cleveland reported that Cuyahoga County judges and sheriff's officials say tampering with a device triggers alerts for deputies and court staff, but they also acknowledge that "no system is 100% foolproof." Experts and officials told the station GPS bracelets are only one layer of supervision and that staffing levels, vendor practices and response protocols matter just as much as the hardware strapped to a defendant's ankle.
Past Failures Feed Calls For Change
Local reporting shows this is not the first scare involving electronic monitoring. In 2023, a teen who was placed on GPS monitoring cut off the device and fled before sentencing, a case documented by WOIO/Cleveland 19 that advocates and officials now cite when arguing for tighter oversight. Business owners and prosecutors say potential policy fixes could include faster tamper-response procedures, stricter bond conditions and clearer rules about who is responsible for monitoring devices in real time.
What Comes Next
Investigators say a warrant is active for Robbins and the search is ongoing. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office routinely uses a "Most Wanted" bulletin and partners with Crime Stoppers to solicit anonymous tips. A county program highlighted in coverage that advertises rewards asks anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463. Prosecutors say the latest developments could end up influencing bond and monitoring decisions for defendants in this case as hearings continue.
