BY JANINE ANDERSON
Journal Times | Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE - The woman arrested for robbing the Equitable Bank in the Village of Waterford has been charged with robbery.
Nichole L. Halbrooks, 22, of Milwaukee, is charged with robbery with threat of force. If convicted, she could face up to $50,000 in fines and 15 years imprisonment. She is being held on a $20,000 bond.
This is the second time this month that bank was robbed. The suspect in the first robbery, Keith Weinheimer, is charged with armed robbery with threat of force.
According to court records:
Franklin police arrested Halbrooks at 2:17 p.m. Tuesday, about 25 minutes after Equitable Bank, 701 Trailview Court, reported a robbery.
A Franklin police lieutenant stopped her car after noticing it matched the description given out by officers investigating the robbery. He said the suspect, identified as Halbrooks, told him she had been at the bank but that she threw the money out of the car.
No money was found in the car, and Halbrooks then asked the handcuffs be taken off so she could show police where the money was. Police removed the handcuffs, and Halbrooks reached into her pants and took the money out. The money was turned over to the Racine County Sheriff's Department.
During interviews with investigators Halbrook reportedly admitted to robbing the bank. She told investigators she had learned her boyfriend had lost his job that morning and was desperate to get money. She said she went to see a friend who works at a Wind Lake gas station and then drove to Waterford. When she saw the Equitable Bank she decided to rob it.
Halbrooks also admitted to committing a bank robbery in Cudahy.
Cudahy police said Halbrooks is a suspect in the robbery of the South Shore Credit Union, 4580 S. Nicholson Ave. The credit union was robbed April 9. Police will submit reports to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office this week.