Category: Crime

Slithering movie theater thief stole up to $70,000 per week

On By A.P.In Anthony Johnson, antisocial personality, Crime, Human Behavior, movie theater thief, PennsylvaniaLeave a comment

 

A Pennsylvania man was convicted of slithering around theater floors and stealing moviegoers’ wallets and purses.

Anthony Johnson, 49, may have taken as much as $70,000 per week, according to authorities. Along with his accomplices, Johnson used the stolen credit cards and IDs to secure cash advances at local casinos. They also purchased thousands of dollars worth of goods from area retailers.

An accomplice testified against Johnson and detailed how the thefts occurred. Because the crimes necessitated purses on the floor, Johnson and a female accomplice would often buy tickets to female-oriented films like “Eat, Pray, Love” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” The pair sat in seats that allowed them a clear view of where the female patrons stored their handbags.

According to courtroom testimony, once the lights went down and the movie started, “Johnson crawled on the floor, removed credit cards from the stored purses, and returned the wallet to the purses.” Johnson would then buy things like gift cards, iPods, and sunglasses and sell them at discounted prices. Johnson had equipment that he used to make fake IDs to match the credit cards.

Now the jig is up. Johnson will be sentenced on January 14. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the seven charges of stealing credit cards. He also faces additional years behind bars due to his identity theft convictions.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/slithering-theater-thief-convicted-faces-serious-jail-time-192450316.html

Political candidate in Brazil passed out cocaine with election leaflets

On By A.P.In Amazon, Brazil, cocaine, Crime, Drugs, Wealth and PowerLeave a comment

 

A Brazil city council candidate has been arrested after she was caught allegedly handing out cocaine with her election leaflets, according to reports.

Carme Cristina Lima, 32, was running for councillor of Itacoatiara, in Brazil’s northern state of Amazonas.

Police became suspicious when they saw a crowd allegedly gathering around Ms Lima’s car on the morning of election day on Sunday.

Officers searched her car and allegedly found hundreds of packets of cocaine attached to the candidate’s leaflets with instructions on how to vote for her.

Speaking to Brazil’s TNOnline website, police chief Daniel Ottoni said: “There was a large gathering of people around Ms Lima, but when they saw the police they all ran away.

“The candidate and another man also fled by car but officers caught up with them.

“According to locals, she had been distributing the drugs since early in the morning, on condition that people vote for her.”

Ms Lima was arrested for electoral corruption and drug dealing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/9593442/Brazil-candidate-handed-out-cocaine-with-election-leaflets.html

Marijuana farm the size of two football fields discovered in Chicago

On By A.P.In cannabis, Crime, Drugs, Illinois, marijuanaLeave a comment

 

Police in Chicago became farmers for a day Wednesday as they began to chop down a  marijuana farm as big as two football fields found in the city.

The farm, which contains about 1,500 plants and could have netted $7-10 million, was spotted by a police officer and county sheriff’s deputy in a helicopter as they headed back to their hangar, MyFoxChicago.com reports.

No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, and police were still trying to determine who owns the property that housed the grow site on the city’s far South Side. But police said they were hopeful that because of the size of the operation, informants or others might provide tips about those involved, including a man seen running from the area as the helicopter swooped low.

James O’Grady, the commander of the department’s narcotics division, tells The Associated Press they’ve never seen anything like it before, in part because Chicago’s harsh winters mean growers have a lot less time to plant, grow and harvest marijuana than their counterparts in less inclement places such as California and Mexico. The bumper crop was likely planted in spring, O’Grady said.

Add to that the urban sprawl: there are few spots in Chicago where such an operation could go unnoticed because of all the buildings, roads and residents. The growers took pains to ensure their crop was largely hidden by a canopy of trees and surrounding vegetation.

“Somebody put a lot of thought into it,” O’Grady said. “But they probably didn’t anticipate the helicopter.”

Chicago Police Officer Stan Kuprianczyk, a pilot, said police helicopters flew “over it all the time,” to and from their hangar, without spying the grow site. Yet somehow, a number of factors came together to allow Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy Edward Graney to spot the plants.

“We had the right altitude, the right angle, the right sunlight, and I happened to be glancing down,” said Graney. He said he initially spotted five plants or so through the trees before he asked Kuprianczyk to circle around for a closer look.

“We just happened to be right over a small hole in the trees and we looked down,” Kuprianczyk said.

They also happened to have the right training, Graney said, explaining that just a few weeks earlier a much smaller operation in suburban Chicago prompted them to fly over and videotape the scene so they might be able to recognize marijuana if they ever saw it from the air again.

So, by the time Graney spotted the marijuana plants, which are a much brighter shade of green than the surrounding vegetation, he had a pretty good idea what he was looking at.

Superintendent Garry McCarthy, whose officers are more used to intercepting shipments of marijuana grown elsewhere or discovering hydroponic growing operations inside buildings, said the discovery of the marijuana is significant in a larger fight against street violence.

Those involved with narcotics, whether it is marijuana, heroin or cocaine, purchase firearms with their profits and have shown they’re willing to use them to protect their business, he said.

“That’s where the violence comes in, the competition for the markets,” he said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/03/police-in-chicago-uncover-nearly-1000-pot-plants-in-city/?test=latestnews#ixzz28RCvlyQP

Pennsylvania couple charged with trying to sell neighbor’s lost puppy on Craig’s list

On By A.P.In Craig's list, Crime, Dogs, Human Behavior, Nature, Pennsylvania, puppyLeave a comment

A couple in Pennsylvania is facing criminal charges for selling their neighbor’s lost puppy on Craigslist instead of returning it, according to police.

Police in Leechburg, Pa., said two dogs, a Rottweiler and a golden retriever mix, wandered onto the property of Scott Duff, 41, and Roxanne Duff, 38, on September 3.

After discovering the animals, police say, Roxanne Duff left a phone message for police saying she was unsure what to do with them.

Leechburg Police Officer Christopher Laird returned Roxanne Duff’s message, recommending that she contact either an animal shelter or a local dog kennel, according to a police report. He told her he would contact her if they find dogs’ owner. During that call, Roxanne Duff allegedly told Laird that the Rottweiler puppy had run away since her initial report.

Later in the evening, Laird received a call from the dogs’ owner, Shawn Lerch, who said Duff had returned his golden retriever but not the Rottweiler. Lerch said he believed his dog was still in the area and suspected the Duffs were keeping him, despite what he had been told.

When Laird knocked on his neighbor’s door, Scott Duff answered and allegedly denied having the puppy. The next day, Lerch called police again, saying he believed the dog was still at the Duffs’ house, according to the report.

This time, police chief Michael Diebold went to the Duffs’ home, where he found the couple’s five-year-old son and his babysitter. According to the police report, the child said, “his mommy had given the dog to a woman from the Internet.”

Diebold contacted Scott Duff again and told him what his child had said. Duff told him he had no knowledge of this and said he only knew that the puppy had escaped from his yard. A short time later, Duff called police back and allegedly admitted that his wife had placed an ad and sold the dog on Craigslist for $50.

After police located the woman who bought the Rottweiler, who said she was unaware of the theft. Roxanne Duff went to Pittsburgh, where the woman lived, to retrieve the dog, and it was returned to Lerch.

Police charged the Duffs last week with not making a reasonable effort to return lost property, two counts of conspiracy and false reporting.

The couple is due in court for a preliminary hearing on October 31.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/21/13991541-pennsylvania-couple-charged-with-selling-neighbors-dog-on-craigslist

Intoxicated woman steals ferry, screaming “I’m Jack Sparrow, I’m a pirate.”

On By A.P.In Addiction, alcohol, Alison Whelan, Crime, Drugs, Drunk driving, ferry, Human Behavior, Jack Sparrow, nightshade, pirate, Tristam LockeLeave a comment

A woman high on drugs and alcohol stole a 45-foot double-decker passenger ferry screaming “I’m Jack Sparrow, I’m a Pirate.” According to reports on Thursday, Alison Whelan and her friend caused thousands of dollars in damages when they commandeered the vessel.

Whelan and her friend Tristam Locke admitted that they had been on a two-day drinking binge and had consumed the deadly hallucinogenic drug, nightshade, as reported by The Telegraph. Whelan made her escape by unmooring the boat, untying several thick ropes “connecting the boat to the shore because she kept tripping over them.”

The ferry started “drifting like a pinball machine.” The two drunk ‘pirates’ were out of control “heading toward dozens of other moored vessels.” Whelan damaged numerous boats, making for a very expensive night. However, no booty for the self-proclaimed pirate has been reported as yet.

Whelan was heard taunting police and shouting “What are you going to do now? I believe this is out of your jurisdiction.” The two incorrigible hijackers were finally apprehended when the ferry came to rest about a mile upstream in still waters.

Whelan is a “chronic alcoholic who is awaiting a liver transplant.” She pleaded guilty to “aggravated vehicle taking and was jailed for 122 days.” When arrested she declared that she “would have ended up in St Tropez” if she hadn’t been captured.

http://www.examiner.com/article/weird-news-woman-steals-ferry-screaming-i-m-jack-sparrow-on-drunken-rampage

Maryland installs cameras to take pictures of cameras

On By A.P.In Big Brother, camera, Crime, government surveillance, Human Behavior, Maryland, The Singularity, traffic camera, vandalismLeave a comment

 

Many people find speed cameras frustrating, and some in the region are taking their rage out on the cameras themselves.

But now there’s a new solution: cameras to watch the cameras.

One is already in place, and Prince George’s County Police Maj. Robert V. Liberati hopes to have up to a dozen more before the end of the year.

“It’s not worth going to jail over a $40 ticket or an arson or destruction of property charge,” says Liberati.

Liberati is the Commander of the Automated Enforcement Section, which covers speed and red-light cameras.

Since April, six people have damaged speed cameras.

On April 6, someone pulled a gun out and shot a camera on the 11400 block of Duley Station Road near U.S. 301 in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Two weeks later, a speed camera was flipped over at 500 Harry S. Truman Drive, near Prince George’s Community College. Police believe several people were involved because of the weight of the camera itself.

Then in May, someone walked up to a camera on Brightseat Road near FedEx Field, cut off one of the four legs, and left.

“I guess that makes a statement, but we were able to just attach another leg,” says Liberati.

But when someone burned down a speed camera on Race Track Road near Bowie State College on July 3, Liberati and his colleagues began to rethink their strategy.

“It costs us $30,000 to $100,000 to replace a camera. That’s a significant loss in the program. Plus it also takes a camera off the street that operates and slows people down. So there’s a loss of safety for the community,” says Liberati

The Prince George’s County Police Department decided it needed to catch the vandals, or at least deter them.

“The roads are choked, there are lots of drivers on them. I think traffic itself is the cause of frustration (towards speed cameras). But, we have a duty to make the roads safe, even if takes a couple extra minutes to get to your destination. Unfortunately, that’s the Washington area, the place we live in,” says Liberati.

Speed cameras themselves can’t be used for security because under Maryland law speed cameras can only take pictures of speeding, says Liberati.

“We’ve taken the additional step of marking our cameras to let people know that there is surveillance.”

Liberati says the cameras aren’t a case of Big Brother nor a cash grab, police are simply trying to keep the public safe from reckless drivers.

http://www.wtop.com/41/3034979/New-cameras-to-watch-cameras-that-watch-you

Traffic ticket paid with 137 origami pigs

On By A.P.In Crime, origami, PigLeave a comment

A miffed motorist who received a $137 traffic ticket stuck it to the police when he paid the fine with 137 origami pigs made of  $1 bills in a couple of Dunkin’ Donuts boxes.

With a phone propped in his shirt pocket to record the transaction, a man that uses that moniker “Bacon Moose” on YouTube arrived to make a municipal court payment for a ticket that he thought was unfair. The video does not indicate the man’s name, the court jurisdiction or when the fine was paid.

“I got this ticket in a town where the cops (and absurd red light cameras) are pretty much a money trap and that’s it. I decided to pay in an appropriate manner — 137 origami pig $1 bills, put in a pair of dozen Dunkin’ Donuts boxes,” he wrote on YouTube.

In the video, which has now been viewed over 180,000 times on YouTube, “Bacon Moose” approaches the counter, where an office worker tries to accept the payment for the ticket, only to find that it presented in a very unique fashion. He refuses to accept it as “Bacon Moose” insists that its legal tender.

“I understand that, but the way that you have it folded, I’m not going to sit here and unfold all of that,” the employee says.

“Bacon Moose” continued to protest, insisting that his payment be accepted.

“How different is this then if I had crumpled bills in my pocket? I am offering you to pay in cash right now. I would have paid by card, but you offer a 5 percent fee for that,” he said.

The officer worker is baffled.

“Why would you do that? Times are tough. Why would you take the time to fold all of these up?” the employee asks.

Eventually, the clerk brings over a uniformed police officer to assess the situation. That officer quite politely asks “Bacon Moose” to step over to the counter and unfold the bills.

“Bacon Moose” finally agrees. Moments later in the clip, it suddenly dawns on that officer what he is looking at.

“Little piggies in a donut box! I got it, I got it!” he laughs.

Eventually while counting the bills, the officer worker begins to see the humor, particularly as “Bacon Moose” identifies one of the origami pigs as Admiral Ackbacon, the sole survivor of a great pig massacre of 2012.

“I will give you props,” the clerk says. “You have made me laugh for the day. I will give you mad props on you taking your time to do each and every one of these.”

“Bacon Moose” added a title to the clip noting that it took eight minutes to count the money, but it only took three minutes to unfold it.  He notes that he lost track after four hours of how long it took him to fold all the dollar bills.  He documented the process here.

 

Traveller caught in India with monkey in his underwear

On By A.P.In animal smuggling, Bangkok, Crime, Hamad Al-Dhaheri, India, Mohammed Al-Shamsi, monkey in pants, monkey in underwear, monkey smuggling, Mumbai, Rashid Al-Shamsi, smuggling, Thailand, Wildlife and CusomsLeave a comment

Customs authorities in India have arrested a man who was attempting to board a flight at New Delhi’s international airport with a monkey in his underwear, a report said on Monday.

The man, who was detained along with two other travellers, had arrived from Bangkok and was about to take a connecting flight to Dubai on Jet Airways, the Press Trust of India reported.

Personnel at the airport found the seven-inch (17-centimetre) loris, a type of monkey native to India and southeast Asia, “in one of the passengers’ underwear during the security check,” PTI said.

Another loris was discovered in a dustbin at the Indira Gandhi International airport.

“They had abandoned him as they were unable to carry him,” a senior security official told the news agency.

The passengers, named as Hamad Al-Dhaheri, Mohammed Al-Shamsi and Rashid Al-Shamsi, were handed over to Wildlife and Customs Department for further questioning and were later arrested by customs police.

Authorities were trying to determine the exact origin of the monkeys.

Customs officials recently caught an Indian man at Mumbai’s main airport with 10 turtles in his underwear, which he was trying to smuggle into the city from Bangkok, the Hindustan Times reported last week.

They also seized six Persian cats, three poisonous tarantula spiders and 11 birds eggs from the man and his two accomplices, the report said.

The newspaper quoted a customs official saying the men were fined and sent back to Bangkok with the protected species and eggs they were trying to smuggle.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120910-traveller-caught-india-with-monkey-pants-report

Citizen mob in China pummels bag snatchers

On By A.P.In China, Crime, Human Behavior, mob, ViolenceLeave a comment

Two criminals riding a motorcycle snatched a woman’s purse in broad daylight. When surrounded by a crowd, one of them brandished a long blade, but unfazed residents attacked them broomsticks, rods, cardboard boxes, chairs, and other makeshift weapons. Some of the participants were reward with official recognition for their actions and display of bravery that day.

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2012/09/05/citizen-mob-china-pummels-bag-snatchers/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter