Cedar Rapids man charged in birthday robbery spree

A Cedar Rapids man was charged Tuesday in Linn County District Court with five different convenience store robberies committed within four hours Monday, which was his birthday.

Rayshawn Cribbs, 24, had an initial appearance Tuesday and was charged with five counts of second-degree robbery. He is accused of displaying a replica BB gun while robbing three Casey's General stores, a Kum and Go and a Kwik Shop in Cedar Rapids, according to a criminal complaint. Cash, cigarettes and two bottles of alcohol were taken from the stores, and cash was taken from two individuals at one of the stores.

Sixth Judicial Associate District Judge Jane Spande set a $10,000 cash bond on each charge for a total of $50,000.

In a separate incident, he was also charged and pleaded guilty during his appearance to fifth-degree theft. He admitted to taking a bottle of vodka, a bottle of orange juice and a container of plastic cups April 15, from Wal-Mart, 3601 29th Ave. SW. The judge sentenced him to five days in jail, which must be served before he can post bond in the robbery cases.

According to a criminal complaint, there is surveillance video of Cribbs committing the robberies at the five convenience stores in a four hour time frame from 2:30 to 6:50 p.m. Monday. In all five robberies, he is dressed the same and displayed an "authentic looking" handgun. Cribbs was arrested by an officer after a short foot chase following the last robbery at the Kwik Shop. The officer recovered the stolen items and the BB gun from  Cribbs.

Police said Monday there also was another robbery during the same time frame at Hometown Inn and Suites, 3315 Southgate Ct. SW, but Cribbs hasn't been charged in that robbery. In the hotel robbery, a black man with a bandana over his face took undisclosed amount of money and left in an unknown direction. No gun was displayed in the robbery.

Cribbs' preliminary hearing is set for May 3, but the hearing will be cancelled if the Linn County Attorney's Office files trial information by that date.