Serial Bank Bandit Told By Branch Manager To 'Get A Day Job': FBI

A serial bank bandit suspected of carrying out nine banks heists was told by one branch manager that he “needed to get a day job” his fourth time robbing the same bank, the FBI said. Steve Briggins, 56, is now in the custody of the FBI after a bank employee was able to take a picture of the license plate on Briggins’ alleged getaway car. He is suspected of robbing TCF bank branches in Stickney, Oak Lawn, Alsip, Westchester and Franklin Park.

Most of the banks were located inside Jewel-Osco supermarkets. Witnesses described the bandit as a tall, heavyset, African-American man, sometimes accompanied by a female, according to a federal complaint.

Briggins appeared Wednesday in a federal courtroom before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman, where he was charged for the April 11 robbery of the TCF Bank at 7122 W. 40th St. in Stickney. He was immediately recognized by a teller as the same man who had robbed the branch three times since December. The teller made a noise to capture the attention of the branch manager. Briggins presented a demand note containing the words “hold up” and “big bills” to the teller. He is also alleged to have told the teller “nice and quick,” as he talked on his cell phone.

During the alleged heist, the branch manager told Briggins “you need to get a day job” and “stop coming here.” Briggins responded “I will.” Briggins demanded more money and the teller gave him two more one-hundred dollar bills, the FBI said.

The branch manager followed Briggins outside the Jewel-Osco store, where he got behind the wheel of what the manager described to police as a black Cadillac. The branch manager was also able to take a photo of the vehicle’s license plate.

When Stickney police arrived on the scene, the branch manager showed officers the pictures of the license plate number. Law enforcement stopped a dark burgundy Cadillac about a mile away. Briggins was driving and his girlfriend sat in the passenger seat.

The FBI said police found approximately $1,050 on the girlfriend, who allegedly told police that Briggins gave her the money when police pulled over the purported getaway car. The Caddy was brought to the Stickney Police Department. Briggins would not let police search his vehicle, but the FBI said clothing he wore to the robbery, a blue jacket and red hat, could be seen through the open car windows.

Briggins’ bank robbery spree began Dec. 14, 2016 at the Stickney TCF Bank branch, the FBI said. He is believed to have robbed the same branch three other times on Jan. 20, March 16 and April 11.

He is also suspected of robbing the same TCF branch in Alsip on Dec. 28, 2016 and Feb. 16, as well as hitting the TCF branch inside the Jewel Osco in Oak Lawn on Jan. 5. The FBI said Briggins struck two more TCF banks in Franklin Park on Jan. 16 and Feb. 10 in Westchester.

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