Not everyone is suited for a life of crime. Some of us avoid it because we realize that it would be wrong to engage in illegal activities. Others prefer not to risk the consequences of getting caught. And then there is another special group—people who attempt a life of crime but really shouldn’t because they are just plain bad at it.
10. Deaf Robber Can’t Hear Alarm
In August 1995, Klaus Schmidt tried to rob a bank in Berlin by walking in with a pistol and demanding money. So far, this is pretty standard for a bank heist. However, as the robbery progressed, the bank employees noticed that the criminal was acting rather strangely. At one point, one of them asked the robber if he needed a bag, and he replied, “You’re damn right it’s a real gun!” This made them realize that Schmidt had a noticeable handicap—he was deaf.Taking advantage, one employee set off the alarm. Schmidt remained oblivious. Even while the incredibly loud alarm was going off and the police approached the bank, the robber remained calm and patient, occasionally spouting threats. When the police arrived, they quickly took the criminal into custody. However, Schmidt found a way to turn a negative into a positive—he tried to sue the bank for exploiting his disability.
9. Free Beer Catches 19 Criminals
Simpsons fans will remember the beginning of the classic “Lisa the Skeptic” episode, in which Homer and a few other Springfield criminals fall for a police sting involving free motorboats. In 2011, Derbyshire police used a similar strategy by offering wanted criminals free beer. The men received notices through undercover officers informing them that they’d won a crate of beer each. To collect, they needed to contact the company that ran the promotion.Many were tempted by the prospect. Nineteen fugitives called the assigned number, setting up a time and place to collect their winnings. Tragically, there was no free beer when they turned up—just police officers ready to take them into custody.
8. Robber Gives Cashier His Phone Number
In 2008, 18-year-old Ruben Zarate wanted to rob a muffler shop in Chicago. He entered the store armed with a gun and demanded money. But there was a problem—most of the money was in the safe, only the manager could open it, and the manager wasn’t in. Ruben decided that he would try again later. To save himself some time, he left his cell phone number with the store employees. That way, they could call him when the manager returned. First, however, the employees called Chicago police. Police arrived and instructed the employees to call the robber, and Zarate returned to find officers waiting for him. They engaged in a brief shootout, and in the end, Zarate was arrested.
7. Robber Leaves Birth Certificate And Note From Mom
Zarate broke a basic rule for any crook: Leave nothing behind that can identify you. Even a fingerprint or strand of hair can lead the police to a suspect. Sometimes, though, the criminal makes it almost too easy for the cops. Such was the case when a Boston robber snatched a woman’s wallet and left behind something that belonged to him—his birth certificate. The man stole a wallet containing $40 in cash and the victim’s ID. However, during the struggle, he dropped two bags of his own. On the very top of one of them was his birth certificate, identifying him as Zachary Tentoni, a 26-year-old resident of Southington, Connecticut. As if that weren’t enough, the bag also contained a letter from the robber’s mother addressed to him. Tentoni apparently realized his mistake because when police contacted him, he tried to pretend he was someone else. This was futile. The victim identified him immediately. /Click Listverse to read the resat/