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Stupid Criminals of the Week

By TChris, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Thu Dec 15, 2005 at 01:47:02 PM EST
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by TChris

The two men who stole a Mustang in San Bernardino would have committed a better crime if they hadn't photographed themselves with the disposable camera they found in the car. When they abandoned the Mustang, they left the camera behind. Police developed the pictures which, together with fingerprints the thieves helpfully left in the car's interior, led them to Albert Engelsman. When the police knocked on Engelsman's door, he was wearing the same shirt depicted in the photographs. Confronted with the evidence, Engelsman ratted out his brother-in-law, the accomplice standing next to him in the impromptu photo shoot.

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    Stupid Criminals of the Week | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: Stupid Criminals of the Week (none / 0) (#1)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:03 PM EST
    Yes, Mr. Engelsman is certainly a very helpful & thoughtful 'criminal'. Geeezz, wonder if that will help while "serving time."

    Re: Stupid Criminals of the Week (none / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:03 PM EST
    Honor amongst thieves? And a family portrait for posterity? :)

    Re: Stupid Criminals of the Week (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:03 PM EST
    Nothing that people do while committing a crime surprises me anymore. When I was a PD, there was a case where the defendant charged with a bank robbery had been identified as a result of the robbery note--which had been written on the back of a PD's next court date notificatioin slip. He'd used the back of the piece of paper that his PD had given him in court that advised him of his next court date on a misdemeanor charge. So, the police obtained the docket for that upcoming date and compared the booking photos from people on that docket with the film from the bank's surveillance cameras--and found their guy pretty quickly. Not too bright.

    Re: Stupid Criminals of the Week (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:04 PM EST
    When I was PD, I had a client who stole a car, drove it around for a while then abandoned it. How'd she get caught? She left her driver's license on the front seat!

    Re: Stupid Criminals of the Week (none / 0) (#5)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:04 PM EST
    Albert Engelsman
    I first read that as 'Albert Einstein.' Whew! ;-)

    Re: Stupid Criminals of the Week (none / 0) (#6)
    by jen on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:04 PM EST
    They provided their own fingerprints and mugshots. They *were* thoughtful.

    Stupid Criminals of the Week | 6 comments (6 topical)