Identity thief busted by calling tech support for his stolen driver's license printer

You know, if you don't know how to use a gadget, you probably shouldn't go to the trouble of stealing it, because your ass is as good as busted when you call tech support. In the latest case of a criminal not grasping this simple concept, a genius known as Timothy Scott Short stole a Digimarc printer used by the state of Missouri to print driver's licenses and casually called the company to procure the needed software drivers -- which caught the attention of the Secret Service agents already investigating him for identity theft. Digimarc isn't saying how the Secret Service knew Short had called, but since the printer can only be used to print Missouri IDs, it's safe to say they might have had a hunch.

[Jared @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:19AM]

Ever notice how many criminals have three names?

[ForcedSterilizationsForAll @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:46AM]

It's serial killers that have 3 names.
Also, they include the middle name since many people have the same first and last name and it's a way to avoid mistaking someone that's not a criminal for someone that is.

[Xzavier @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:06AM]

Nothing wrong with have 3 names, especially if you know some history on the 3 names.

First name is either a given name or the name of the parent. Second name can be the same as the first name or another relative’s name. Third name is the family name.

I have 3 names. So did Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, etc...


Last time I heard the 3 name theory was when I was listing to Joyce Riley of The PowerHour. Very interesting!

[macona @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:22AM]

Like Hillary Rodham Clinton?

Sorry... Couldnt resist...

[Grant @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:07PM]

Pretentious people like to try and make themselves look unique by including that 3rd name. Most normal people have a middle name, they just don't advertise.
Oddly enough, everyone that has been listed above thinks pretty highly of themselves, wouldn't you think?

[Robobagins @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:33PM]

Well I've always used my middle initial, even going by my middle name since I'm pretty much a John Smith.

[oshean @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:25AM]

robble robble

[F. BOTI @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:07AM]

LMAO!!!!

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:31PM]

I blame the lax policies of the McCheese administration!

[Silverfrog @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:41AM]

That is almost as dumb as trying to re-activate a stolen cell phone.

[blade417 @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:52AM]

no, that's actually dumber

[Grant @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:58PM]

petty theft vs. identity theft, grand theft of government property, document fraud.... and the list goes on.
I think it's a TAD bit stupider.

[robhill45 @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:01AM]

My god, can we please go one year without having a Digimarc story?

[Tavis Veighey @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:56AM]

Once a year for a Digimarc story, or once every 6 hours for an iPhone story...

I'll gladly take more Digimarc stories in exchange for less iPhone stories.

[Jerome @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:10AM]

we could of simply say " I got this at a yardsale"

if they ask more questions you say "I don't remember"

[Kizorblade @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:20AM]

Your choice of picture for this article is exquisite =)

[StrangeBum @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:36AM]

It's making me hungry.

Hamburglar, come give me some of the goodness.

[Kizorblade @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:57AM]

I'll have to arrest you for that sir. He's trying to sell you stolen burgers, and you're helping him.

[mike @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:45AM]

... allegedly stole.

[ptulskie @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:33AM]

They gave it to me so I could work from home.

[kevjohn @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:35AM]

I wonder how they'll punish him. The guy already lives in Missouri.

[Jennifer @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:45PM]

Snerk.

Actually, I think it was stolen from the office I got my driver's license from back in the day.

There's a reason why they call it Misery.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:32PM]

Hamburgers are best hot!

[elchulopadre @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:46PM]

Should'a plugged it into a mac.




\I keed! I keed!

[Grant @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:01PM]

how lax is their state security that he could steal it in the first place?
I'm pretty sure those things are a pretty big one size fits all solution including UV ink, picture printer, and laminator.

[Silverfrog @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:10PM]

Those places have banker's hours, so breaking in should've been pretty routine and easy to do.

[Grant @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:16PM]

as easy as stealing something the size of an ATM/business copier/printer?

[enzo @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:44PM]

"Digimarc isn't saying how the Secret Service knew Short had called"

Patriot Act? :X

[Mike @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:58PM]

Thank you for being the only one to take note of that.

[Philometalist @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:47PM]

They new because that were listening to his phone calls and screening his email like they are with every other American.