Who Still Thinks Crime Pays?
Author: Knight Pierce Hirst
On November 14, 2009 a slim 22-year-old Romanian man attempted to break into a supermarket in Portugal. He tried to get in through a tiny window. Unfortunately for him, once he got his upper body through the window, he couldn't find anything to hold onto for support while he tried to wiggle his way in. The would-be burglar spent 11 hours stuck in the window, including the 2 hours it took police and firemen to get him out. Considering the man removed his pants while trying to free himself, he definitely exposed himself to the fact crime doesn't pay.
On December 18, 2009 a yet-to-be-apprehended, armed man robbed cash from 3 establishments - a Circle K convenience store, a Mobile gas station and a Shell gas station. Robbing 3 establishments in 1 day is surprising. What is more surprising is the robberies occurred in Southern California - off 3 different freeways exits. In Southern California the traffic-jammed freeways are robbers of time. However, what's most surprising is the man committed all 3 robberies in 30 minutes. Although no one was hurt, the robber obviously didn't know that crime doesn't pay - but giving time management lessons would.
In a sermon during the 2009 Christmas season Reverend Tim Jones, an Anglican priest in Britain, advised his congregation to shoplift. The priest said it was permissible for people in desperate situations to take food. His advice was to shoplift from large, chain stores that would pass the cost on to their customers in the form of higher prices. Amid an uproar of protests from Britons, the Archbishop of York emphatically stated that the Church of England does not advise shoplifting and he summoned Reverend Jones to meet with him - perhaps to suggest sermons about the lifting of spirits only.
In January 2010 Tatiana Khan, a 69-year-old California antiques dealer, sold a Picasso drawing - "The Woman in the Blue Hat" - for $2 million. Khan said she could sell it for less than market value because it came from the Malcolm Forbes family estate. The FBI said Khan could sell the drawing for less because she had paid an artist $1,000 for the copy. The FBI also seized a painting by abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning, which Khan allegedly bought with $720,000 from the drawing deal. Does crime pay? Khan may spend 45 years in prison drawing - her own conclusion.About the Author:
Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting cards. Now she writes a 400-word blog three times a week. KNIGHT WATCH, a second look at what makes life interesting, takes only seconds to read at http://knightwatch.typepad.com Should You Buy Rocket Japanese? - Will it Actually Work? Play Before You Pay Duvet covers - Things to Know Before You Buy Should You Buy FAP Turbo Or Not The Leg Stretches Pay Off Quick Tip For Being Able To Buy Moped Parts How To Avoid Paying High Hearing Aid Prices Broken Promises to Pay The Negative Side Of Paying Private Tuition Think Twice Before You Buy Your Next Face Cream Used Jaguar - Which One Will You Buy? Cordless Power Tools – How To Buy The Best The Do's And Don'ts Of Online Shopping