Category:
Stupid Criminals

Sharing too much during a job interview

Asheville Citizen Times - July 16, 1975

Posted By: Alex - Sun Nov 10, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Police and Other Law Enforcement, Stupid Criminals, 1970s

Library Robbery

The most important rule for being a successful robber is to rob places that have money.

Los Angeles Times - Feb 23, 1973

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 24, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1970s

Girl Stowaways

As you're reading the first column, jump down to the second image, which is a continuation of same.




Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 11, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Stupid Criminals, 1950s, Women

Unauthorized Dwellings 33

Read the full story here.

NOTE: image is generic.

A man in Washington smelled cigarette smoke in his home and traced it to an upstairs loft. There he found a makeshift bed, a running heater, half-eaten food, and drugs. The following day the suspect returned to the house and was taken into custody, police said.


Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 17, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Drugs, Stupid Criminals, Unauthorized Dwellings, Twenty-first Century

Bad Wig Bandits

Bad hairpieces are a definite theme for bank robbers. The first such I find is from the 1950s. The latest is from 2020. When will the next Bad Wig Bandit strike?

The newspaper piece below was too long to reproduce in its entirety, but you can read about Frank Sprenz here.












Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 27, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Stupid Criminals, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century, Hair and Hairstyling

Spelling-Challenged Bank Robber

As far as I can tell, this guy was never caught. On the other hand, it doesn't sound like his efforts got him much money.


Miami Herald - Oct 11, 1980

Posted By: Alex - Thu Feb 08, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1980s

The bank robber who waited

June 1997: When a bankrobber demanded money, the teller told him to wait while she got it. She kept him waiting for 20 minutes, until the police arrived.

I'm pretty sure banks now instruct their employees to give robbers the money, rather than trying anything like this.

Miami Herald - June 10, 1997

Posted By: Alex - Tue Dec 05, 2023 - Comments (1)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1990s

Cup Final Seats

"A man who placed advertisements in a national newspaper offering 'Cup Final seats" for £15 sent applicants small canvas stools with 'Cup Final' written on them."

He probably thought he had figured out the perfect crime.

The Guardian - May 24, 1977

Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 28, 2023 - Comments (0)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1970s

Bunny bandit

Brilliant disguise:

Police said a man who robbed a convenience store early Friday wore a white bunny head with the face cut out.

Ellwood City Ledger - Aug 28, 1993

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 31, 2023 - Comments (2)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1990s

Unlikely Reasons for Murder No. 15

Source: Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) 17 Feb 1949, Thu Page 21


Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 13, 2023 - Comments (3)
Category: Death, Food, Scary Criminals, Stupid Criminals, 1940s, Alcohol

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Who We Are
Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

Paul Di Filippo
Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

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