Stupid Criminals
Slow-Speed Chase
The Billings Gazette - Mar 29, 1998
Posted By: Alex - Mon Dec 24, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1990s
Trapped in grease vent
Weird news aficionados will be familiar with the phenomenon of would-be burglars trying to gain access to buildings by climbing down chimneys or vents, only to get stuck.The latest example of this comes from Alameda County, California, where a man got trapped for two days in the grease vent of a vacant Chinese food restaurant. Rescuers arrived in response to reports of a faint voice calling for help.
On its Facebook page, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office has provided pics of the rescue.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Dec 14, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Stupid Criminals
Looking for a pigeon
Unconvincing excuse!
Camden Courier-Post - Mar 29, 1979
Posted By: Alex - Sun Nov 11, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1970s
Reasons for Murder
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 26, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Annoying Things, Antisocial Activities, Death, Stupid Criminals, Nineteenth Century
Shed Thieves
Police in Maine caught some criminal masterminds red-handed as they were trying to steal a large shed by dragging it down the street with their pick-up truck. Apparently, they only got 25 feet.More info:
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 21, 2018 -
Comments (5)
Category: Stupid Criminals
Robber calls cops on himself
Some people just aren't cut out for crime.
The Montana Standard - July 9, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 21, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Stupid Criminals
Stolen Lampposts
Police in Lelystad (the Netherlands) arrested a man who was driving with two stolen lampposts strapped to the top of his car. They posted the following picture to their Facebook page.
Google Translate provides the following translation of the picture's caption (and I think Google translate has been getting better lately, because this translation is fairly comprehensible):
We start with the traffic violations. That the cargo can not be transported in this way may be clear. In addition, the car was not insured and the APK had been running for more than three months. The driver's license B was declared invalid by the end of 2016. The colleagues smoke with the driver an alcoholic air. However, he refused to cooperate with a blow test on which he was arrested. Expectation is that the court will demand the highest possible penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol because the suspect did not cooperate with the investigation.
The investigation investigated the origin of the lampposts. These are most likely stolen in Almere. In addition, there appeared to be other criminal investigations to the suspect, such as refueling without paying.
The suspect is embedded in the cell complex and has now been insured. The car has been seized.
In summary, seems that the guy was drunk, uninsured, had an expired driver's license, and was driving around with two stolen lampposts on top of his car.
My question is, what was he planning to do with the lampposts?
Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 05, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Crime, Stupid Criminals, Cars
Unique Real Estate Negotiations
Original story here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun May 28, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Buildings and Other Structures, Domestic, Marriage, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Stupid Criminals
Mr. Zap of the USPS
Full story here.
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 13, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Stupid Criminals, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, 1970s, Postal Services
An Unfortunate Error
Marshall George Cummings, Jr. of Oklahoma was charged with snatching a purse from a woman on October 14, 1976. His case came to trial in January 1977, and Cummings asked to represent himself, which the court allowed. However, during the cross-examination of witnesses, Cummings proceeded to make what the state later described as an "unfortunate error." He conducted the cross-examination in the first person. Specifically, he asked the main witness, "Did you get a good look at my face when I took your purse?" The jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to ten years in prison.Cummings later appealed his sentence, arguing that the court had erred by allowing him to represent himself and that "there was not a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel." As proof of this he pointed to his blunders during the trial. The state argued back that his incompetence could not have been foreseen in advance, and that he had been fully advised of his rights.
Cummings also complained that the prosecutor had used prejudicial "showboating" tactics during the trial. For instance, Cummings alleged that at one point the prosecutor had removed a document from his file "in a manner reminiscent of a musketeer unsheathing his sword to do battle with enemies of the king."
The appellate court decided that the errors cited by Cummings weren't sufficient to reverse his conviction. However, it did modify his sentence, reducing it from ten years to five.
You can read the full text of the appellate court's decision at Justia.com.
Asbury Park Press - Jan 5, 1977
Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 29, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1970s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |