dumb criminals

Read the latest news stories about dumb criminals on Newser.com

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This Burglar Picked a Bad Time for a Nap

Florida man found on bed with bag of stolen jewelry

(Newser) - An alleged burglar in Sarasota County, Fla., was literally caught napping by deputies, who paused to take a few photos of the man snoozing next to a bag of jewelry before waking him up and taking him to jail. A maid called police when she discovered Dion Davis, 29, asleep...

Guy Butt-Dials 911, Gets Busted for Drugs

He's arrested after authorities overhear his conversation

(Newser) - There's no need for phone-tapping when criminals call the police on themselves. That's what allegedly happened to one Grant O'Connor, 25, WKRN reports: He butt-dialed 911 as he chatted about a dealer and doing drugs, police say. Officials traced the call, which led them to a restaurant...

Man Being Chased by Cops Stops to Play With Cats

Daniel Pinedo-Velapatino faces multiple charges in Florida

(Newser) - Daniel Pinedo-Velapatino was apparently so stressed out during a police chase last week he stopped at a stranger's house to play with her cats. The saga began when the 21-year-old allegedly stole $15,000 from a friend in Florida, and police later saw him hit a car at an...

Cops: Woman Rubs Officer's Pepper Spray Back Into His Eyes

A Florida arrest gets a little out of hand

(Newser) - When a Florida sheriff's deputy spotted two women arguing in a store parking lot, he intervened, Keys News reports—but the response was more than he bargained for. As the officer attempted to arrest Sara Henderson, 33, on charges of disorderly intoxication, he says she fought back. In the...

Punishment for Brooklyn Bridge Climber: Cleaning It?

Judge sees jail time as inappropriate for accused tourist Yaroslav Kolchin

(Newser) - For a Russian tourist who's accused of climbing the Brooklyn Bridge, the punishment may fit the crime. Prosecutors suggested a deal involving 90 days in jail for Yaroslav Kolchin, but judge ShawnDya L. Simpson doesn't think that's a great idea. Instead, she suggested he be required to...

Kid, 7, Narcs on Mom for Cooking Meth in Car

Why, yes, Florida was involved

(Newser) - Today, in Criminal Masterminds Who Could Use a Lesson in Discretion: We present one Briana Buchanan, a 27-year-old single mom who maybe should have thought about getting a babysitter while she was allegedly cooking meth out of the trunk of her car. Seems her 7-year-old son was bothered by "...

Fugitive's Mistake? He Wins Police Doughnut Contest

Burglary suspect arrested after victory appears in newspaper

(Newser) - When you're on the lam from police, it might be best to avoid entering doughnut-eating contests sponsored by the aforementioned police. Because you just might win, get written up in the local paper, and then not be on the lam anymore. Such is the strange fate of Bradley Hardison...

Woman Poses for Clerk Holding Stolen Credit Card

Police seeking Florida shopper who used it for beauty supplies

(Newser) - A picture is worth a thousand words—and sometimes a possible jail sentence. Police in Ocala, Fla., are searching for a woman who used a stolen American Express credit card after a suspicious store clerk snapped a photo of her posing with it, reports the Smoking Gun . The shopper charged...

Woman Tries to Steal Cop Car —With Cops in It

Said she planned to drive it to her car: police

(Newser) - A woman in Pittsburgh made the bold move of trying to steal a police car; unfortunately for her, it contained police. According to authorities, an apparently drunk Ria Buford, 32, was hanging out with friends near the unmarked car following a huge after-party for a concert. Plainclothes officers were sitting...

NYPD Chopper Nearly Downed —by 2 Guys With Drones

Pilots had to change course to avoid collision over George Washington Bridge

(Newser) - An NYPD helicopter nearly collided with two drones over the George Washington Bridge yesterday, resulting in a matching pair of felony reckless-endangerment charges for two men. The chopper pilots said in a police report that they were patrolling just after midnight when they "observed flying object[s] at 2,000...

Woman Leads Cops on 100mph Chase —to Preferred Jail

Grady County jail apparently not a place she wanted to spend time

(Newser) - So maybe you've been drinking and maybe you're speeding a little, but what to do when a cop tries to pull you over—presenting you with the very real prospect of doing a little time in a less-than-desirable county jail? Step on the gas, and lead police on...

Woman Tries to Kill Spider, Ends Up With Arson Charge

You know what isn't a great idea? Setting a fire to kill a creepy-crawly

(Newser) - Listen up, arachnophobes: You do not fight spiders with fire. Or so goes the cautionary tale of 34-year-old Kansas woman Ginny Griffith, who has been charged with aggravated arson after she apparently tried to kill a spider—by using a cigarette lighter to set fire to some towels, reports the...

Would-Be Carjackers Should Have Learned to Drive Stick

70-year-old's devious 5-speed wins the day when kids can't drive it

(Newser) - Kids these days can't even jack an old lady's car correctly: KIRO brings us the tale of three teenage would-be carjackers in Seattle who were thwarted by a lowly manual transmission. Nancy Fredrickson, 70, was getting something out of the trunk of her Kia Saturday when three kids...

Cops: Cuffed Woman Steals Her Pot Back, Eats It, Forgets Crumbs

Yes. Florida.

(Newser) - Tavish Smith was having quite the night by the time she landed in the back of the cop car: Florida police say she was driving her truck the wrong way down a highway, crashed it, continued on, then crashed again—all while allegedly more than a little tipsy. But as...

Cops: Burglar Logs In to Facebook Mid-Burglary

... forgets to log out of victim's computer

(Newser) - It's generally not OK to log into Facebook during work. It's definitely not OK if you work as a burglar, and you're a little absent-minded about logging out. Police say Nicholas Wig, 26, broke into a home near Minneapolis and stole money, credit cards, and other valuables,...

Guy Robbed Woman, Then Friended Her: Cops

Criminals with distinctive tattoos might consider restraint on social media

(Newser) - Ah, Facebook, that repository for high school friends, college friends, friends of friends, people you wish you'd never met ... and the dude who robbed you the other day? Police in Washington state say that a woman was sitting at a ferry terminal with headphones on when a guy knocked...

Phone Thieves Send Selfie, Get Busted

They send photo to victim's friends on Snapchat

(Newser) - A pair of thieves managed to steal a teen's phone during a party—and they promptly incriminated themselves by sending a selfie to the kid's friends. One of the thieves has now turned himself in, and he's been charged with petit larceny, police say. Khayyam Alexander, 16,...

Bread Truck Thief Showers NYC With Bread

In his underoos, natch

(Newser) - Maybe he was shooting to be the Robin Hood of carbohydrates? Police in New York City have charged 29-year-old David Bastar with criminal possession of stolen goods and driving without a license, reports the Journal News , and this is how they say it went down: A driver for Grimaldi's...

Traffic Stop Leads to College Drug Ring's Collapse

Arizona cop smelled pot, found ecstasy

(Newser) - When a trooper pulled over 20-year-old Andrew Gajkowski in December, the officer was only planning on giving him a ticket for driving solo in the HOV lane. But then he smelled marijuana wafting out of the window, and searched the car. Even then, what he found was unexpected: A bag...

Teen Arrested in Stolen Tux —at Prom

18-year-old faces felony charges

(Newser) - When a $600 tuxedo was stolen off a mannequin Friday night at a bridal shop in Prescott Valley, Ariz., police knew just where to look: They called around to local schools and discovered that one of them had its prom scheduled for the weekend. The store owner, whose front window...

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