Bank Robber’s Epic Fail: TD Bank Heist Ends at Little Caesar’s Pizza
In what might be the most bizarre crime story of the year in Brevard County, a Palm Bay man gave new meaning to the phrase “half-baked plan” when he allegedly robbed a TD Bank—then conveniently left both his identification and his location for police to find him.
Local residents were left shaking their heads this week as news spread about a bank robbery that ended not in a dramatic getaway, but with a pizza order.
The Not-So-Perfect Crime
According to Palm Bay Police, Wilbert Nieves walked into a TD Bank branch and handed over a note demanding $1,500, claiming he was armed. That’s standard robbery protocol—if there is such a thing. But what happened next has even veteran officers scratching their heads.
Instead of making a clean getaway, Nieves reportedly left his Florida driver’s license right on the counter. And if that wasn’t helpful enough for law enforcement, he also informed bank staff exactly where they could find him—at the Little Caesar’s pizza shop right next door.
I can’t make this stuff up, folks.
Hot-N-Ready Arrest
Police didn’t exactly need to launch a county-wide manhunt. When officers arrived at the scene, they simply walked next door to Little Caesar’s where they found Nieves waiting for his pizza order.
One has to wonder if he was hoping to enjoy one last slice before his inevitable arrest. Unfortunately for him, handcuffs were served before his Hot-N-Ready.
Why Brevard County Can’t Stop Talking About This
This story has quickly become the talk of Melbourne and surrounding Brevard communities, and for good reason. It combines elements that make for perfect water cooler conversation:
- A bank robbery (already newsworthy)
- An unbelievable mistake (leaving ID behind)
- A bizarre pizza shop finale
One local resident, who asked not to be named, summed it up perfectly: “Only in Florida would someone rob a bank and then wait for pizza next door. I thought I’d heard it all!”
Not Florida Man’s Finest Moment
While the “Florida Man” phenomenon has given our state a certain reputation for unusual crimes, this one stands out even by those standards. Law enforcement officials commented that this case might be one of the easiest arrests they’ve ever made.
“When suspects literally tell you where they’re going after committing a crime and leave their identification behind, it certainly simplifies our job,” a Palm Bay Police spokesperson might as well have said.
The Pizza Connection
The Little Caesar’s employees were reportedly surprised to learn that their hungry customer had just allegedly committed a felony moments before ordering. The pizza shop has since become an unexpected local landmark, with some residents jokingly suggesting they add a “Bank Robber Special” to the menu.
What Melbourne Residents Should Know
While this story certainly provides some comic relief, bank robbery is no laughing matter. TD Bank locations throughout Brevard County have security measures in place, and staff are trained to handle such situations safely.
If you’re a Little Caesar’s customer, don’t worry—your fellow pizza lovers are unlikely to be fresh from committing felonies. This appears to be a bizarre one-off incident rather than a trend.
The Takeaway: Maybe Skip Pizza After Your Bank Robbery
If there’s a lesson to be learned here (besides “don’t rob banks,” which should be obvious), it might be that crime and fast food don’t mix. Or at least, if you’re planning to commit a felony, maybe don’t leave your ID behind and tell people where you’re going next.
For now, this story joins the pantheon of strange Florida crime tales that make our local news so uniquely entertaining. And the next time you’re grabbing a $5 Hot-N-Ready, take a moment to appreciate the freedom that comes with not having just robbed a bank.
Have you ever witnessed strange happenings around Brevard County? Share your (legal) stories in the comments below!
Source: Palm Bay Police Department reports, Local news coverage of the TD Bank robbery incident.