Aussie uses pants to hide stolen projector

It's one thing to have the cops roll up to the wrong retail location while you scurry away in the opposite direction, but to get away unscathed after cramming a mammoth projector down your pants is rather incredible. In yet another case of heists gone awry, a presumably desperate and unprepared Australian duo set out to snag what was likely the largest projector in the store, but rather than using a backpack (or eying one of those miniature models), the crooks decided that shorts were best. After wrestling with the device and even getting on both knees in an attempt to stuff it all in there, the primary suspect finally covered the excess up with his oversized tee and managed to waltz out with his accomplice as store employees probably dolled out sympathy thinking that that the poor lad had kyphosis. Regardless, we certainly hope the boys in blue manage to nab these fellas and throw in a count of abusing their rights to be idiotic while they're at it. Hit the read link for the comical video.

[Via Wired]

[kingofwale @ May 7th 2007 10:37PM]

DUMBEST Customer Service guy of all time.

probably even dumber than the Geek Squad guy who tried to tape someone in the shower over his cellphone

http://consumerist.com/consumer/geek-squad/geek-squad-sued-for-videoing-customer-in-shower-251662.php

[eh @ May 7th 2007 11:09PM]

The joke will be on them when they realize how much replacement bulbs cost.

[RandomThoughts @ May 7th 2007 11:14PM]

Oh, they stole some replacement bulbs, but you really don't want to know where they hid those.

[Big @ May 7th 2007 11:15PM]

I'm ashamed to say it...

I worked at Circuit City back in 2003 and I was suffering from Kleptomania. I wanted a Wireless Router so badly...but didn't want to pay the $70 for it.

So one night, when it was snowing outside, I actually took a Netgear Wifi router off the shelf, out of its box and attempted to stuff it in the small of my back.

I quickly came to my senses when I realized it was much too large and clunky - I'd never make it past the front door security - who happened to be getting ready to close down for the night.

I left it torn apart on the shelf.

Funnier thing was - the security guard offered me a ride to the train in his tiny japanese car. Had I tried to get away with that router, I'd have been found out for SURE cause when I was getting out the car it woulda fallen out my ass.

[Grey Acumen @ May 7th 2007 11:17PM]

Actually, I'm sorry, but I have to admit, that worked far better than I thought it would. I was expecting corners to be sticking out and stuff, but he just looks a little overweight in a weird way. Lets face it, the last thing a sales rep wants to do is stop someone to tell them their body looks weird.
With how often those security things go off at the wrong time, all you have to do is pause as if you don't understand why it went off, then continue walking normally, and they'll just ignore you completely.
I have to admit, all you would have needed to complete that whole scene was for the lookout to try helping the other guy just in time to miss someone walk in on them.

[Big @ May 7th 2007 11:23PM]

Another TRUE STORY...

When I was working at that Circuit City, during the Christmas shopping rush, two teens actually came in, picked up two Playstation 2 (slimline) units right off the floor and walked towards the door. As the security guard was checking people's reciepts, THEY BOLTED through the door and into the parking lot to their waiting getway vehicle.

The store assumed that the spider wrap security devices were enough to deter theft...

GUESS NOT.

[Big @ May 7th 2007 11:28PM]

to steal something this big, its easier to simply use MISDIRECTION.

Standing around waiting for people to turn their backs (like this kid did) IS STUPID - even though it worked.

Its much easier to simply ACT - or pretend to be someone who is there picking up this thing as if he SHOULD be picking it up and then simply walk right out the front door with it in his hand.

In BEst Buy's and Circuit City's, they had to post men at the front door to check receipts simply because people would just walk right out the front door with large boxes of stuff. Large Boxes have no security tags.

[Big @ May 7th 2007 11:33PM]

Would anyone here believe me if I told you all that
back in BEST BUY store 483 (Rego Park - Queens Blvd, NY)... back in May of 2005, 3 guys came into the store, around 2 PM, cracked open a case filled with NINTENDO DS's and PSP's and were able to stuff a total of 13 DS's and 5 PSP's away - simply walking right out the front door.

Moreover, this Best Buy is located inside a mall type area on the second floor.

I posted this story on Bestbuysux shortly before I quit.

Managment ran around like Chickens with their heads cut off when they realized what happened. Next day they claimed the Shrink for the previous day was over $3000 partly due to this hit. Best Buy stores typically see $1000 of merchandise dissapear daily - most of which they don't know about.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ May 7th 2007 11:33PM]

Sure, they got away.. but karma always manages to catch up with people.

[johnjohnson @ May 7th 2007 11:36PM]

thats nothing, some guy at best buy was able to take the security thing off a ps3 box, take the ps3, and shove it down his pants. With camera's on him, and people walking around. Talk about skill.

[Jesse S @ May 8th 2007 12:00AM]

Link?

[johnjohnson @ May 9th 2007 11:34AM]

There is no video unfortunately, except on the server at best buy.

[fearless_fx @ May 8th 2007 12:03AM]

is that a projector in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

[Kevin @ May 8th 2007 12:30AM]

Well I want a projector too... But Damn!

[Anonymous @ May 8th 2007 12:36AM]

So now they are high, they are watching something on a projector that is better than my 32" LG LCD, and...THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE REALLY>!?!?! what has this world come too....

I guess I can't complain though. My English ancestors sent these robbers English ancestors off to Australia for no other reason than because they were adept at crime. I guess this shows you that they were right.

[hangfire @ May 8th 2007 12:39AM]

typical ozzie convicts

[KiwiNick @ May 8th 2007 12:46AM]

Aussie Aussie Aussie!

[tekdroid @ May 8th 2007 12:54AM]

i can see the ebay ad now:
"Brand new, never used..."


(do i hear a collective "ewwww")

[Aaron @ May 8th 2007 2:18AM]

I have to say, I don't have the balls to steal like this, but I think all the time how easy it would be. I sort of admire the ones who do crazy stuff like this and get away with it.

[Ryan @ May 8th 2007 4:09AM]

Why are so many people paying out Australians?

Pretty sure Australia has a MUCH lower level of crime than the US, and at least they don't shoot people for PS3's...

[Bob @ May 8th 2007 6:20AM]

Hey at least they didn't go back for the cords! maybe somebody (aka thefts) leaned something. lol

[iSpork @ May 8th 2007 6:25AM]

It's Jason Chen!

[Mike @ May 8th 2007 6:47AM]

The front of my pants is already packed with something very large....maybe he was missing one and felt the need to replace it?

[matthew @ May 8th 2007 9:49AM]

Actually, it's silly for Americans in particular to joke about the criminal Australian settlers.

England actually sent more prisoners to the USA than Australia; it only started sending them to Australia after the American Revolution (we were, obviously, no longer eager to accept ships filled with bread-thieves).

The gross majority of the criminals sent to both the American and Australian colonies were guilty of minor theft (e.g. food), although there were more severe offenses (e.g. robbery, assault).

[J @ May 8th 2007 10:36AM]

in addition to fitting better, wouldn't a smaller projector be easier to fence?

@big--kleptomania isn't taking something because you want it but don't want to pay for it...that's just straight-up theft. Kleptomaniacs most commonly take things that are of no use to them, and they do it a lot.

[Big @ May 8th 2007 10:19PM]

does stealing dinnerware JUST BECAUSE IT IS THERE count as Kleptomania?