On trial for computer theft, burglar steals PCs from courthouse

In our last installment of Stupid Gadget Criminals, we brought you the amusing tale of two dimwitted Arkansas men who had made a habit of stuffing videogames from Wal-Mart down their pants and then reselling the stolen merchandise at a local GameStop outlet -- which happened to be right next door to the 'Mart. Today's episode features a Marin County, California gentleman by the name of Jon Houston Eipp who was caught by police trying to steal a number of Apple computers from Portal Publications in Ignacio; Eipp was captured following a brief struggle, while his accomplice was apprehended minutes later after crashing the getaway car on an off-ramp. So far there's nothing all that noteworthy about this crime -- until Eipp showed up in court last Wednesday for his hearing, that is -- when, upon being released on bail, he proceeded to hide in the Civic Center courthouse until closing time and steal even more computers by carting them out in a recycling bin. Even though he was stopped by maintenance workers and sheriff's deputies on the way out, Mr. Eipp still managed to vacate the premises without being apprehended, and might have remained a free man for awhile longer had he not been caught later that night trying to steal a 1996 Volkswagen. Although one might gather from this story that Eipp has a severe Internet addiction, he later admitted that he was just stealing the PCs for drug money, a habit that he'll hopefully be able to kick during a likely prison term of 4+ years.

[Via Fark]

[Jeroen @ Sep 21st 2006 4:21AM]

The world does not need more security

[Deluxe @ Sep 20th 2006 11:54PM]

Here's a TIP. Both to the criminal, and comment #1. You share one of the same afflictions.

[klew @ Sep 21st 2006 12:09AM]

Always cool when you see your hometown get a little bit of press.

[Pouya @ Sep 21st 2006 8:09AM]

My home town too ;)

[Matthew Rasmussen @ Sep 21st 2006 12:13AM]

Yeah, idiots make for fun stories :P. Anywho, I love these reports -- keep up the good work!

[Dp462090 @ Sep 21st 2006 1:20AM]

How dumb do have to be get caught stealing computers, goto court, and then steal computers from the courthouse, and then to top it off, try to steal a car?

[lifesux @ Sep 21st 2006 2:35AM]

lmao he just has no fear

[Colin @ Sep 21st 2006 3:03AM]

They're following me! I lived in Arkansas when the Wal-Mart thing happened, and now I live in San Fran, just over the bridge from this guy. Weird.

[Gabo @ Sep 21st 2006 3:56AM]

Who kicks a drug habit in prison? Usually it's petty drug offenders who get hooked on hard stuff while they're IN prison.

[@ Sep 21st 2006 5:38AM]

Totally hilarious! Maybe they're just keeping up to their reputation. :)

[jalapeno @ Sep 21st 2006 10:43AM]

hmm, don't know about the clip art, looks kinda cheesy

[cjs6 @ Sep 21st 2006 4:14PM]

This guy must really want to go to jail. It scares me how crazy some people really seem. I mean, ok, you attempt to steal computers, and you almost get away with it the second time... but at what point does stealing a car sound like a good idea??

[Joe @ Sep 21st 2006 4:29PM]

How was he supposed to get away with all those computers then? Steal a kids skate board and get away by hanging on the back of a jeep?

[Eric M @ Feb 1st 2007 12:57AM]

Nice clip art!