# Oops. Burglar didn't think this through. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998 "2015-11-30T00:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/21 "2015-11-30T15:38:04Z")
19 years old. What a stupid way to waste one’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/22 "2015-11-30T15:54:11Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > > [@WordMan](#): > > > > I can’t imagine being the homeowner. Due to completely random circumstances, his actions contributed to the death of someone. I can’t imagine hearing that trapped burgler’s yelling and scrambling to put out the fire, let alone waiting for police/FD to show up and break out the trapped (now) body. > > > > No crime on the homeowner’s part, obviously, but perhaps a need to talk with someone. > > No kidding. No matter what anyone may or may not deserve, I’d greatly prefer that no one die on my property, especially by my own hand. Third that. Fairly horrific for the homeowner. I’m not sure I’d want to continue to live there. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/23 "2015-11-30T16:09:10Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Article said the homeowner heard him start yelling after he lit the fire. Did the homeowner douse the fire then? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/24 "2015-11-30T16:22:16Z")
OB Gahan Wilson [link](https://peelslowlynsee.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/gahan-wilson-0ct-1964-miss-emmy.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/25 "2015-11-30T17:15:20Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > No crime on the homeowner’s part, obviously, but perhaps a need to talk with someone. … > [@](#): > > Nowhere is there > A more happier crew > Than them wot sings > “Chim chim cher-ee > Chim cher-oo” > > Chim, chimney > Chim, chim, cher-ee > Chim, cher-oo ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/26 "2015-11-30T17:48:06Z")
So, this is the third nationally-known instance of people being stuck in chimneys in the past 13 months. ([other one](http://nypost.com/2014/10/20/woman-gets-stuck-in-chimney-of-man-she-dated/), [other two](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/01/remains-18-year-old-missing-for-7-years-found-in-colorado-chimney/)) Two of the three instances resulted in death. Can we all agree that chimneys are not a valid entry point to homes, and maybe stop dying in them? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/27 "2015-11-30T18:16:03Z")
Someone should do a PSA. ETA: Not me. I’m a Darwinist. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/28 "2015-11-30T18:37:01Z")
Someone must be doing this successfully, right? RIGHT? Or maybe there’s just an urban legend among burglars that tells of the great Chimney Access Heist where the brave villains absconded with millions, giving rise to the occasionally irresistible urge to try it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/29 "2015-11-30T18:41:14Z")
Conclusive proof that smoked meat is bad for you. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/30 "2015-11-30T18:46:53Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Conclusive proof that smoked meat is bad for you. It was only bad for one person. [Guy Fieri] The burglar was smoked to perfection and had a great smoke ring. Fall apart tender and that flavor was out of bounds! [/GF] ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/31 "2015-11-30T18:51:16Z")
I can almost see his shitty car in front of that house. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/32 "2015-11-30T20:00:37Z")
Bad move by the burglar. The death penalty seems a bit harsh for a simple B&E charge. But I wonder how the homeowner got such a big fire started so fast that it wouldn’t promptly douse with just a cooking pot of water or dropping a bath towel over it. Seems to me the fire could have been put out by a competent homeowner within a few seconds of the burglar making himself known. Perhaps the homeowner didn’t hear the burglar until the fire was really going. Or else the homeowner is panic prone and just dithered and fiddled while jeRome burned. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/33 "2015-11-30T20:00:41Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Someone must be doing this successfully, right? RIGHT? Or maybe there’s just an urban legend among burglars that tells of the great Chimney Access Heist where the brave villains absconded with millions, giving rise to the occasionally irresistible urge to try it. If a fat guy in a red suit, with white fur trim can do it & not even get dirty, surely skinny lil me can do it too. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/34 "2015-11-30T20:08:10Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If a fat guy in a red suit, with white fur trim can do it & not even get dirty, surely skinny lil me can do it too. :dubious: You win 10 points for the post/username combo and deadpan delivery. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/35 "2015-11-30T20:08:40Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Perhaps the homeowner didn’t hear the burglar until the fire was really going. Or else the homeowner is panic prone and just dithered and fiddled while jeRome burned. 😃 Good thing for you I can’t reach through the internet and punish you for that. I’d say you had a Nero escape. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/36 "2015-11-30T20:16:35Z")
Could have been worse [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25KSyr0XttE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25KSyr0XttE) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/37 "2015-11-30T21:05:40Z")
He died of the flue. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/38 "2015-11-30T22:59:18Z")
feed a fire, starve a coal ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/39 "2015-12-01T06:33:23Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > He died of the flue. Navarth would be proud of you. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998/40 "2015-12-01T07:32:50Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > Navarth would be proud of you. It’s enough to drive a poet mad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-burglar-didnt-think-this-through/738998.md?page=3)