Los Angeles, California
A carjacker tried to steal a minivan at a gas station in August 2002, but turned out to be exactly the wrong target: it was full of members from a judo club from Florida. The martial arts team sprang into action and tied the wannabe car thief into a pretzel until the cops arrived.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
A man walked into an art gallery one Sunday afternoon in 1999 and started chatting with the artists. He was no art lover, when no one was looking he stole a large plastic jug filled with $100 in donations and fled. However the artist was able to draw a picture of the crook since he talked with him so long. The police were then able to use the picture to capture the thief.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
About a week after robbing a local bank in May 2001, a thief dropped his dirty cloths at the dry cleaners. But he left a holdup note that was with his pin-stripped shirt. The cleaner later found this note and called the cops. The robber was later arrested.
Marked Tree, Arkansas
November 2004, the security camera at the Marked Tree bank showed that a thief had broken in and had stolen a clock radio, a CD player, and a pile of Dum Dum lollipops from a candy dish. Police walked out of the bank they found a candy wrapper…then another…and another. The cops followed the trail of wrappers down the streets, across the railroad tracks, into a mobile home park, and right into the bank robber and into his guilty sweet tooth.
Totnes, England
An engaged couple visited a bridal shop in June 2000 and at piles of gowns, hats and accessories. But they walked out without buying anything. By the time someone realized one of the dresses was missing the couple was gone. Four months later, as the owner of the shop read her local paper, she came across a photo of the engaged couple's wedding, featuring the blushing bride wearing the stolen dress. The cops paid a visit to the newlyweds, and soon the husband-who was the dress thief-was the one who was bushing.
Larkspur, California
Three men were trying to steal a pick-up truck one afternoon in 1989 when the vehicle's owner showed up. The wannabe thieves ran, but a truck's owner and nearby police car gave chase. With the cops closing in, 2 of the of the fugitives saw a fence and climbed over I to get away-and landed right in the Sanfancisco Quentin maximum security prison.
Santa Barbara, California
In 2000 one thief made the police's job easy when he robbed the restaurant he used to work at. He performed the crime while wearing his old uniform shirt with his name on it.
