Last week we told you about a debit card breach found in Chicago area Michaels arts and craft stores. This week, the Chicago Tribune says that the impact is much more widespread than thought, as it turns out that actually, thieves stole debit card info at Michaels in 20 different states. [More]
crime
Sony Breach Could Flood Market With Millions Of Cheap Stolen Credit Cards
By 5.6.11
Some fun (no, not really) potential aftershocks of the Sony Playstation Network breach: The price of buying a stolen credit card number could drop from $5-$10 per to $1-$2 if the hackers flood the market with the 2.2 million credit cards they claim to have access to… [More]
Pickpockets Target Starbucks Customers
By 5.2.11
While you’re taking a break with a relaxing Trenta of Pike’s Peak Roast coffee at Starbucks, a thief could be silently snagging your wallet, reports the New York Times. [More]
LAPD Falls For Internet Hoax, Sends Out Misguided Alert About UPS Deliveries
By 5.2.11
Internet hoaxes are capable of tricking not only your grandma, but also the Los Angeles Police Department. An 8-year-old yarn about terrorists — dressed as UPS workers thanks to uniforms bought on eBay — who could deliver explosives disguised as packages spurred the force to send out an alert to residents. An unidentified state law enforcement agency passed the info to the police department. [More]
Tomato Thieves Terrorize Florida Trucking Industry
By 4.15.11
These tomato thieves aren’t just naughty bunnies nibbling in your garden, but a sophisticated band of crooks taking advantage of the high price of produce right now to take in $300,000 hauls, reports the NYT. [More]
Man Gets 6-12 Months After Yelling At Walmart Greeter Who Asked To See Receipt
By 4.14.11
A man has received a 6-12 month sentence after he was accused of yelling and cursing at a Walmart greeter who asked to see his receipt. [More]
Bearded Man Steals $658 Worth Of Razors, May Have Shaved Beard By Now
By 4.6.11
New Jersey’s Hunterdon County Democrat urges the public to watch out for a criminal on the loose. A tall, burly, bearded man shoplifted $658 worth of expensive razors from a Walgreens store. Police told the newspaper that the man “may or may not have a beard at this time.” [More]
Pro Football Player Accused Of Stealing Beer From Casino Deli
By 4.5.11
No matter how tough things may be for out-of-work pro football players, it’s doubtful they’re hard up enough for cash that they have to resort to swiping beer. [More]
Apple Store Guard Shoots And Kills Robbery Suspect
By 4.4.11
A suspect in a smash and grab robbery is dead after engaging in an estimated 40 shot gunfight with an armed private security store guard hired by Apple to protect its San Diego store, reports 10News and NBC San Diego. [More]
ID Thief Mars Victim's Record With DUI
By 4.1.11
Another thing that can suck about having your identity stolen is that the crook can rack up crimes in your name. That’s what happened to one University of Georgia student who opened up the campus paper to find his name underneath the mug shot of another young man for a DUI, reports Red And Black. [More]
Cops Taser 400-Pound Alleged Shoplifter Riding Motorized Cart
By 3.30.11
Tangles between shoplifters and law enforcement often make for entertaining spectacles, but what went down at a Macomb County, Mich. Meijer in February is tough to top. When a 400-pound woman allegedly used a motorized cart to try to cruise away with $600 in stolen items, she got stuck at the door. She then allegedly pushed and punched a security guard, then resisted arrest until an officer subdued her with a Taser. [More]
Man IDs, And Shames, Alleged Laptop Thief With Dance Video
By 3.28.11
A man says he has his stolen laptop back after he posted a video of the guy who snatched his laptop took of himself dancing, using the camera on the laptop. [More]
Man Gets Lead On Laptop Thief Using Dropbox Program
By 3.24.11
Ryan believes he has a lead on who stole his laptop thanks to the Dropbox filesharing program that was installed on his computer. Turns out his laptop could be just up the street from him right now. But what does he do with the IP address he got from Dropbox? [More]
SWAT Called, Gunman Pissed Over Price Of Taco Bell Burritos
By 3.21.11
A SWAT team was called in to deal with a gunman who was enraged the price of Taco Bell Beefy Crunch Burritos had risen from their promotional price of $.99 to $1.49. [More]
Visa Letting People Send Money By Credit Card Could Be Boon For Scammers
By 3.18.11
Visa is launching a new service that will let people send each other money from their Visa or bank account to each other’s Visa debit, credit or prepaid card, as we noted yesterday. But while this will open up new vistas of convenience, and offer a way for people who are sick of scammers exploiting Paypal’s refund system to conduct transactions, I would at the same time expect to see new kinds of advance fee fraud using the service. [More]
Abuse Swept Under Rug At State-Run Homes For Developmentally Disabled
By 3.17.11
Employees at New York state-run homes for the developmentally disabled who sexually abused, beat and taunted residents are infrequently fired, reports a New York Times investigation. Instead they are mostly just transferred to work at another group home. [More]
Millionaire Dentist Steals Navy Vet's Credit Card And Buys 2 Large Pizzas
By 3.11.11
A millionaire dentist has been charged with credit-card theft and forgery after stealing a credit card from a Navy veteran and buying two large pizzas with it, reports WTSP. [More]
Craigslist Says "Cesspool" Study Is "False And Defamatory"
By 2.25.11
A new study calls Craigslist a “cesspool” of crime — a study that Craiglist says was paid for by the competition and which it calls “false and defamatory.” [More]
