Crime Scene: Around the World


Posted at 05:13 PM ET, 05/03/2012

Guilty plea for Kevin Britton in international car theft ring
By Matt Zapotosky
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles, authorities said.

By Matt Zapotosky  |  05:13 PM ET, 05/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Matt Zapotosky, Pr. George's, Around the World

Posted at 02:19 PM ET, 08/18/2011

Alleged ‘Quest’ pirate charged in second hijacking
By Del Quentin Wilber
A Somali man — who has already been charged with being a ransom negotiator in the hijacking of an American yacht that ended in the deaths of four U.S. citizens — has been indicted for his role in the pirating of a German vessel, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

By Del Quentin Wilber  |  02:19 PM ET, 08/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Del Quentin Wilber, From the Courthouse, Around the World

Posted at 10:03 AM ET, 06/14/2011

Life in prison for 7 men after deadly hostage incident in Trinidad
By Del Quentin Wilber
Seven men from the nation of Trinidad have been sentenced to life in prison in the District’s federal court for taking a U.S. citizen hostage, holding him in brutal conditions and allowing him to die.

By Del Quentin Wilber  |  10:03 AM ET, 06/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  From the Courthouse, Del Quentin Wilber, Around the World

Posted at 10:41 AM ET, 03/29/2011

Man extradited to Md. from Czech Republic in rape case
By The Herald-Mail
Prosecutors say a former Hagerstown man accused of raping a woman in Washington County, Md., in 2000 has been extradited to Maryland from the Czech Republic.

By The Herald-Mail  |  10:41 AM ET, 03/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  From the Courthouse, Around the World, Maryland

Posted at 06:54 AM ET, 01/20/2011

Prison guards catch drug-laden pigeon
By Washington Post Editors
Guards stopped a drug-carrying pigeon from entering a Colombian prison, according to reports: Agents saw the animal attempting to cross the prison wall. When he tried again he discovered that his body was weighed down with 45 grams of marijuana....

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:54 AM ET, 01/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:52 AM ET, 01/11/2011

Farmers leave suspect tied up, without pants
By Washington Post Editors
Don't try to steal fuel from Canadian farmers -- at least, if this report is any indication of the treatment you'll receive: Two central Alberta farmers served up some cold hard justice to an alleged fuel thief on their property,...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:52 AM ET, 01/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:39 AM ET, 12/29/2010

Woman faked kidnapping to test husband: Report
By Washington Post Editors
A woman in Spain faked her own kidnapping to test her husband, according to this report: The man received the photo on his mobile phone from someone claiming to be one of the kidnappers along with a text message demanding...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:39 AM ET, 12/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:46 AM ET, 12/20/2010

Man calls 911 in Canada, requests marijuana
By Washington Post Editors
A man in Canada called 911 and asked for pot, according to this report: The man sounded intoxicated when he called Tuesday, the Victoria police operations blog reported. An officer went to where the call was made and found the...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:46 AM ET, 12/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:48 AM ET, 12/17/2010

Police seek UK 'Hot Tub Gang' burglars
By Washington Post Editors
A group of burglars in the UK appears to be targeting homes with hot tubs and leaving their wet underwear as a calling card, according to this report: There have been at least four similar incidents at homes with hot...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:48 AM ET, 12/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:40 AM ET, 12/06/2010

Stolen snowman prompts emergency call
By Washington Post Editors
A woman in the UK called for emergency assistance after a snowman was stolen from her front yard, according to this story: Police said she thought it demanded their involvement because she had used pound coins for the eyes and...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:40 AM ET, 12/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:32 AM ET, 11/29/2010

Police called after man traps self in basement
By Washington Post Editors
Police in Germany were called when residents heard the sound of drilling coming from inside their home. Turns out a neighbor had bricked himself into his basement by accident, according to this report: Our self-imprisoning friend freed himself by knocking...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:32 AM ET, 11/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:37 AM ET, 11/23/2010

Mother claims terrorism to stall daughter's marriage
By Washington Post Editors
A Russian mother told authorities her daughter was a suicide bomber to stop her from flying to wed a Moroccan man, according to this report: Meanwhile, police traced the fraudulent call to the city of Yaroslavl, where the 56-year-old mother...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:37 AM ET, 11/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:47 AM ET, 11/16/2010

Louts routed in the UK
By Washington Post Editors
A pair of drunken men in the UK picked a fight with a couple of strangers who turned out to be more prepared than they likely bargained for, according to this report: They had no idea their intended "victims" were...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:47 AM ET, 11/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:16 AM ET, 10/28/2010

Mother turns in son after police release photo
By Washington Post Editors
A man in the UK who robbed an oddsmaking establishment got in trouble -- with the police and with his mother -- when he removed his mask in front of a security camera, according to this report: Lorenzo Mason's mistake...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:16 AM ET, 10/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:56 AM ET, 10/06/2010

100 women in Canadian strip club brawl
By Washington Post Editors
A 100-woman brawl broke out at a Canadian bar after a woman's view of a male stripper was obscured, according to this report: More than 100 woman were at a fundraiser in Nanaimo’s Cavallotti Lodge on Friday night watching a...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:56 AM ET, 10/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:32 AM ET, 09/29/2010

Aussie bandit peels off her top
By Washington Post Editors
A woman robbed a Subway restaurant in Australia -- but not before shedding a layer of clothing, according to reports: "She was waving a knife and threw a bag over the counter, asking the attendant to fill it with money,"...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:32 AM ET, 09/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:10 AM ET, 09/23/2010

Burning pot wafts across school grounds
By Washington Post Editors
Cops burning marijuana to dispose of it caused a stir when the wind blew puffs of it across a New Zealand school grounds, according to this report: St Joseph's School principal Peter Knowles noticed smoke coming from the Picton police...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:10 AM ET, 09/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:41 AM ET, 09/22/2010

Crack-carrying car explodes: Police
By Washington Post Editors
A car exploded in Brazil after a man and woman tried to smuggle crack cocaine in their gas tank, according to this report: Police say that when they stopped to refuel their natural-gas powered car, the cylinder exploded. Read more...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:41 AM ET, 09/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:56 AM ET, 09/21/2010

Loot bag overwhelms robber: Report
By Washington Post Editors
A bank robber in Bulgaria was caught after his bag of cash was too heavy for him to handle on his getaway motorcycle, according to this report: The hapless thief was caught when he attempted to make his geaway from...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:56 AM ET, 09/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:33 AM ET, 08/30/2010

Man tries to change fake $1 million bill
By Washington Post Editors
Police in the United Arab Emirates have arrested a man they say tried to pass a fake $1 million bill off as real, according to reports.

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:33 AM ET, 08/30/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 07/30/2010

Woman leaves resume, attempts theft
By Washington Post Editors
A woman in Canada was spotted on security cameras shoplifting shortly after a job interview at the same store, according to this report: She bolted with the items and the store manager, who was in the backroom at the time,...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:00 AM ET, 07/30/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:41 AM ET, 07/29/2010

Bank robber asks for change
By Washington Post Editors
A bank robbery attempt in New Zealand turned odd when the would-be robber demanded 50 cents, according to this report: Police said the man, in his early 20s, entered the Victoria St bank with a bandana over his lower face...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:41 AM ET, 07/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:48 AM ET, 07/13/2010

Big anti-crime sweep in Italy
By Washington Post Editors
Italian police on Tuesday carried out one of the biggest operations ever against the powerful 'ndrangheta crime organization, arresting 300 people including top bosses, and seizing million of dollars in property. The man believed to be the 'ndrangheta's top boss,...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:48 AM ET, 07/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World

Posted at 07:19 AM ET, 07/13/2010

Real 'cat burglar' reported in UK
By Washington Post Editors
We recently wrote about a "cat woman" thief in New York, but this feline has his own game to go with the name: From a UK report: The owners of a cat have reported their pet to the police after...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:19 AM ET, 07/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:11 AM ET, 07/12/2010

Sweet-talking hitchhiker steals car
By Washington Post Editors
A hitchhiker in South Africa used a proposal of a love affair to trick a woman in to loaning him her car -- and then stole it, according to this report: He described himself as a family man, but explained...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:11 AM ET, 07/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 06:53 AM ET, 06/29/2010

Wrestler catches would-be burglar
By Washington Post Editors
A man in England who was attempting to rob a house was surprised when the owner, a former wrestling champion in Poland, came home and subdued him, according to this report: Man-mountain Adam Kalinowski told how Lee Christie, 38, sobbed...

By Washington Post Editors  |  06:53 AM ET, 06/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:41 AM ET, 06/25/2010

Man's to-do list incriminates him
By Washington Post Editors
A man arrested with drugs on his person in the United Kingdom was incriminated by his to-do list, according to this report: Thomas Franks was arrested last month after police searched him in Crawley, West Sussex. Officers found 21 grams...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:41 AM ET, 06/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:45 AM ET, 06/22/2010

'Goldilocks' burglar caught sleeping
By Washington Post Editors
A burglar in New Zealand was caught when she was found sleeping in her victim's bed, according to this report: Vanessa Joy Long, 39, who has long blonde hair tied back in a pony tail, proved an easy arrest after...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:45 AM ET, 06/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:45 AM ET, 06/17/2010

Stolen safe lost during u-turn
By Washington Post Editors
Two men who stole a safe from a store in Australia and tied it to their car lost it trying to do a u-turn, according to a report.

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:45 AM ET, 06/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:50 AM ET, 06/16/2010

Dog helps foil carjacking attempt
By Washington Post Editors
A man at risk of being carjacked in Australia helped turn his attackers back with the help of his dog, according to this report: He pulled over and was approached by a man in his late 20s, wearing black pants,...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:50 AM ET, 06/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:46 AM ET, 06/14/2010

Would-be burglar catches self in hole
By Washington Post Editors
A man in the UK was caught trying to sneak into a department store after he got stuck in the hole he'd put in the wall of the shop, according to this report: The 17-stone crook became wedged as he...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:46 AM ET, 06/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:03 AM ET, 06/09/2010

Immigrants found in band's speakers
By Washington Post Editors
Members of an English rock band were stopped and arrested after authorities found illegal immigrants in their speakers as they returned from a European tour, according to this report: Customs officers discovered four Vietnamese immigrants hiding inside their speakers and...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:03 AM ET, 06/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:41 AM ET, 05/27/2010

Would-be bank robbers in Germany blow up a bank
By Washington Post Editors
Nobody was injured, but a bank in Germany was destroyed when bank robbers vastly misjudged the amound of explosives needed to blow open a safe, according to this report: The building housing the bank in the northern village of Malliss...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:41 AM ET, 05/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:05 AM ET, 05/04/2010

Dressed as superhero, man foils shoplifter
By Washington Post Editors
A comic book shop owner dressed as Spiderman broke up a would-be theft, according to this report out of Australia: Adelaide Comic Centre owner Michael Baulderstone, 45, spotted a man "behaving suspiciously" at the back of his Rundle Mall shop...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:05 AM ET, 05/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:55 AM ET, 04/23/2010

Woman claims lost purse, gets busted for cocaine in it
By Washington Post Editors
A woman who went to the police station to pick up a missing purse was arrested for the cocaine that was in it, according to this report: She left her bag in a pub last November and, despite knowing there...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:55 AM ET, 04/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:49 AM ET, 04/13/2010

UFOs, bad weather among explanations for illegal parking
By Washington Post Editors
A man in the United Kingdom didn't pay a parking fine because, he said, he was distracted after spotting a UFO, according to this report -- which lists a bunch of other unusual appeals made after similar violations: Other reasons...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:49 AM ET, 04/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:58 AM ET, 04/09/2010

Typo keeps man behind bars for three extra years
By Washington Post Editors
A Thai man has been released from an Indonesian prison after spending three extra years behind bars because of a typo in his paperwork, a report said Friday. Kamjai Khong Thavorn, 53, should have been released in 2007 after serving...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:58 AM ET, 04/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 05:05 AM ET, 02/19/2010

A busy day for Canada woman
By Washington Post Editors
A woman has been placed under house arrest after a varied crime spree, according to this report: Jennnifer Knowles, 45, of Deep River, Ont., admitted on Tuesday to stealing from a delivery truck, scratching a woman's face, breaking and stealing...

By Washington Post Editors  |  05:05 AM ET, 02/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 05:04 AM ET, 02/12/2010

Australian police find drugs in toys, diapers
By Washington Post Editors
An Australian police unit has been busting up drug rings -- and finding their goods stashed in all manner of children's amusements, according to this report: After unrelated arrests, three men - Jinshui Lin, Jiansham Zheng and Shigan Xie -...

By Washington Post Editors  |  05:04 AM ET, 02/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:16 AM ET, 02/10/2010

Man charged with killing, eating cheetah
By Washington Post Editors
A man in Swaziland has been charged with breaking game laws after he killed and ate a cheetah, according to this report: Solomon Maziya was arrested and charged for contravening the Game Act. Yesterday he appeared at the Magistrate Court...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:16 AM ET, 02/10/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:15 AM ET, 02/09/2010

Police end up in standoff with police in disguise
By Washington Post Editors
Australian police dressed in disguise to stage a mock robbery, leading to a standoff with undercover detectives, according to a report.

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:15 AM ET, 02/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:10 AM ET, 01/27/2010

Man breaks into construction office, steals calendars: Police
By Washington Post Editors
A man who broken into a construction office in Rostock, Germany, could have taken any number of things -- but opted for pin-up calendars, according to this report: “Absolutely no tools were stolen, only several pinup calendars,” the police in...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:10 AM ET, 01/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:04 AM ET, 01/14/2010

Men drove car on frozen canal, fell in
By Washington Post Editors
Two UK men who thought it might be fun to drive on a frozen canal soon found their car sinking through the ice, according to this report: The pair narrowly escaped death after their vehicle broke through ice on the...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:04 AM ET, 01/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:08 AM ET, 01/05/2010

Checking in from the East
By Washington Post Editors
A getaway van that was too small for the loot, a jewel thief who flushed diamonds he thought were fake down the toilet and more, from this wrap-up of Asian crime: While many around the world are groaning and guffawing...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:08 AM ET, 01/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:09 AM ET, 12/28/2009

'Give me the money and your best table'
By Washington Post Editors
From the UK, the story of a robber who apparently didn't want to flee the scene of a crime on an empty stomach: The 38-year-old is accused of stealing several hundred pounds after waving an airgun at terrified staff. But...

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:09 AM ET, 12/28/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:56 AM ET, 12/23/2009

A meaty incident
By Washington Post Editors
A man in China tried to hold up a restaurant with an unusual weapon, according to reports: Mr He, 23, threatened to blow up a restaurant and its customers in Benxi, northern China, unless the staff handed over the contents...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:56 AM ET, 12/23/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 05:12 AM ET, 12/18/2009

'Thanks for the jail time'
By Washington Post Editors
The story of the Czech man who apparently prefers life in an Austrian prison to freedom in his own country: Radim Kopecky, 22, told the court in Korneuburg, Austria, that life in jail - especially at Christmas - was much...

By Washington Post Editors  |  05:12 AM ET, 12/18/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 07:16 AM ET, 12/16/2009

Salami sluggers duke it out in Germany
By Washington Post Editors
Two Germans were sent to the hospital after battling each other in a supermarket with ... salami. Seriously. The fight took place in the western city of Aachen when a 74-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman both laid claim to...

By Washington Post Editors  |  07:16 AM ET, 12/16/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:08 AM ET, 12/09/2009

British offer civilians chance to investigate crimes
By Martin Weil
On television and in novels, amateur detectives solve lots of murders. Now, it seems, the British appear to be offering so-called "civilians" a chance to do it in real life.

By Martin Weil  |  08:08 AM ET, 12/09/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 12/07/2009

Exposed to "The Wire," Londoners confront crime
By Washington Post Editors
The Baltimore Sun has an interesting item out of London today.

By Washington Post Editors  |  01:44 PM ET, 12/07/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 08:12 AM ET, 12/01/2009

'Mules' or fools?
By Washington Post Editors
Check out this photo gallery of failed, if creative, drug smuggling attempts, from the Telegraph. It's got everything from cocaine casts to unwitting puppies -- and much more....

By Washington Post Editors  |  08:12 AM ET, 12/01/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 03:01 PM ET, 11/30/2009

Two bad hiding places
By Washington Post Editors
Here's the story of a man from Birmingham, England, who evidently robbed a bank... then ran to hide in his house across the street... and hid the money in the house next door. Hapless crook Christopher Walker stole £25,000 before...

By Washington Post Editors  |  03:01 PM ET, 11/30/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 11/25/2009

That's him, officer -- I'm sure of it
By Washington Post Editors
A sketch of a suspect that looked more like a child's doodle seems, amazingly, to have led to the capture of a murder suspect in Bogota, Colombia.

By Washington Post Editors  |  12:00 PM ET, 11/25/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Around the World, Around the World