A north suburban man charged with robbing one bank last month and suspected of holding up at least two others told the FBI the branches made themselves “easy to rob,” according to charging documents.
Eric D. Fulton, 53, of the 3200 block of Eshcol Avenue in Zion was charged Tuesday with one felony count of bank robbery, according to a statement from the FBI. He is accused of robbing the NorStates Bank branch at 3233 Grand Ave. in Waukegan on June 27.
The robber entered the bank just before 3 p.m., handed the teller a note saying “Give me the money in the drawer. No electronic device’s [sic]. No one has to be hurt!” according to a federal criminal complaint.
As the teller read the note, the suspect placed his right hand inside a portion of his jacket, as though gesturing toward a weapon.
After the teller handed him more than $3,000 in cash, he left the bank and was seen driving away in a green minivan, according to the FBI.
Fulton is also suspected of two other robberies that took place at another NorStates Bank branch at 1601 N. Lewis Ave. in Waukegan on June 21 and July 5, according to the FBI.
A customer at the bank during the July 5 robbery told authorities the suspect appeared to a be a man known to frequent the area of Grand Avenue and Butrick Street, according to the release.
Local
On Monday, Waukegan detectives showed bank surveillance photos from the robberies to individuals in that area and were directed to an alley behind Butrick Street, where they spotted Fulton in a dark green Nissan Quest minivan, according to the FBI.
After a brief chase, Fulton was arrested. He confessed to the three robberies and said the bank made itself “easy to rob,” according to the complaint.
Fulton appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Rowland Tuesday afternoon in Chicago and was ordered held pending his next court appearance Thursday afternoon.
