# Things you should NOT leave behind while comitting a crime **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 14, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075 "2016-02-14T00:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 14, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/1 "2016-02-14T00:51:21Z")
[your 3 yo child](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160213_Cops__Shoplifting_mom_left_child_behind.html) [your arm](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ROBBERY_ARM_SEVERED?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) > [@](#): > > Alex St. Fleur told the Daily News of New York that he was walking down the street when he saw the SUV jump the sidewalk and slam into the teenager. He and his son ran over and they saw the arm lying on the ground next to a shoebox. > > “\*\*Everyone was yelling ‘Come back! Your arm! \*\*You’re going to bleed out!’” St. Fleur told the newspaper WTF criminals, aren’t these things important to you? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/2 "2016-02-14T01:11:40Z")
I was expecting examples like, “your wallet”. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/3 "2016-02-14T01:44:29Z")
I’ve seen a lot of strange things attempt to get on a city bus. Thank Og I have never seen a guy minus his freshly severed arm attempt to do so - think the bus driver suspected foul play was at work? Just maybe? “Dude, I don’t care if you got exact change, you ain’t gettin’ on dis bus spurting blood like that!” ---
**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:** [February 14, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/4 "2016-02-14T02:05:15Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > [your arm](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ROBBERY_ARM_SEVERED?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) > > WTF criminals, aren’t these things important to you? > [@](#): > > The teen hopped up and staggered away, his sleeve flapping. The arm and the gun were discovered at the scene, officials said. Well, he certainly disarmed the gunman. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/5 "2016-02-14T02:23:09Z")
One day, many years ago, I came home to find that my apartment had been burglarized. Place had been ransacked, and my VCR was missing, as was my TV remote (which the burglar apparently thought went with the VCR), as well as a few other minor items. I called the cops and reported it; the cops showed up and took a statement. While they were there, I noticed a textbook on auto repair sitting in my chair. It was not mine. I said so. Cops picked it up, looked at it. One of them recognized it as belonging to the local high school… and had the name of its current user written in it; they issued each book by number to a specific student. They called the school and busted the kid the following day. He hadn’t had room for my VCR and the textbook in his backpack, so he’d left the book there. Stupid kid. ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/6 "2016-02-14T02:24:48Z")
I live five blocks from where this happened - gd bless the Daily News, they never disappoint with their professional reporting: > **[Thief tries to stick up Brooklyn driver in Air Jordan sale scam, but victim...](https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/man-commits-robbery-brooklyn-struck-car-article-1.2529727)** > > A crook who tried to rob a motorist during a sneaker sale scam in Brooklyn was struck by his fleeing victim and was slammed against a fence. Some highlights: “He’s a little less armed and a lot less dangerous” “Amazingly, the teen jumps up after being hit, struggles with Pierre and other witnesses, and runs off with his sleeve flapping.” "“Everyone was yelling ‘Come back! Your arm! " “But the now one-armed bandit trudged on. He managed to hobble onto a B103 bus idling nearby, sending stunned riders into a panic.” ““Everyone (on the bus) was screaming because he didn’t have an arm,” St. Fleur said.” You really have to read the full article to get a sense of good NY journalism… 🙂 The best thing I saw on television was when they interviewed a neighbor who offered just one word - Karma. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/7 "2016-02-14T02:35:08Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > [your 3 yo child](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160213_Cops__Shoplifting_mom_left_child_behind.html) > > [your arm](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ROBBERY_ARM_SEVERED?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) > > WTF criminals, aren’t these things important to you? Any reports of giant ants [in the area…?](https://youtu.be/OzSlr0C3heM?t=3387) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/8 "2016-02-14T03:19:16Z")
Eyeglasses, with distinctive, rare hinges. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/9 "2016-02-14T03:27:50Z")
This is true, although I am reluctant to even admit it. Many years ago, I stole a 1/2 pint of rum. I needed some mixer so I went to the counter with said rum hidden in my back pocket and purchased a 12 ounce bottle of Coca-Cola. Clerk was not fooled at all. Paid for the Coke with a credit card. :smack: Yeah they found me, but were very kind not to lock me up. However, that 1/2 pint cost me $550USD in fines, and a mis-doh-meaner. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/10 "2016-02-14T03:33:30Z")
How was the robber supposed to get bus fare out of his pocket? If you’re **Spiderman** , you should not leave webbing behind; dead giveaway. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/11 "2016-02-14T05:09:47Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Eyeglasses, with distinctive, rare hinges. Love it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/12 "2016-02-14T05:53:32Z")
Dr. Richard Kimble can rest easy now. They’ve caught the one-armed man. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/13 "2016-02-14T08:15:53Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Love it. My lord - two people know this one? There may be hope for these boards yet!.. Nah, just a fluke… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/14 "2016-02-14T08:44:46Z")
I don’t know it. Went over my head at the speed of sound. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/15 "2016-02-14T09:14:51Z")
Years back, there was some sort of crime committed in San Francisco. The perp left their keys behind at the scene. No ordinary keys, though. There was an electronic key for a nearby apartment building,so it was easy for the office to tell the police what apartment it was from and who it was issued to. Oops! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/16 "2016-02-14T11:08:50Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > My lord - two people know this one? Three - just hadn’t gotten my post in yet ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/17 "2016-02-14T14:14:59Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > My lord - two people know this one? > > There may be hope for these boards yet!.. Nah, just a fluke… It’s not surprising – PBS just ran an episode about the Leopold and Loeb case last week, and in prime time, no less. When I saw the thread title, I thought that’s what must have prompted it. But I guess Stupid Criminals are forever. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/18 "2016-02-14T16:38:07Z")
> [@Wallet](#): > > You really have to read the full article to get a sense of good NY journalism… 🙂 _Headless Body in Topless Bar_, man. I have the News and the Post bookmarked just to grab such examples of high quality writing. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/19 "2016-02-14T20:22:27Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s not surprising – PBS just ran an episode about the Leopold and Loeb case last week, and in prime time, no less. > … Yeah, I _knew_ it was too good to be true. :smack: sigh… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075/20 "2016-02-14T22:41:08Z")
Don’t sweat it, man! 90 years from now only a handful of folks will remember “The Bloody Glove” from our “Crime of the Century”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-should-not-leave-behind-while-comitting-a-crime/746075.md?page=2)