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DS Daily: Your MOM likes video games
And she might! Thanks to the alluring and radical power of the DS. How many of you guys have been searching for your DS high and low for a rousing game of Metroid Prime: Hunters, only to find your mother or sister locked away in their rooms caring for their virtual canines? How about Animal Crossing, Electroplankton, or even more traditional fare?The DS is easier to pick up and play than your elementary school recorder; this causes problems in the DS Fanboy offices when the three butlers and five secretaries all vie for our glossy handhelds.Ahem.
Inebriated crooks leave behind digital snapshots of themselves
It's one thing to lose track of all the peripherals you need to gank whilst stealing a gaming console, but to leave behind digital snapshots of yourself at a crime scene is on an entirely different level of dumb. In a case filled with Darwin award nominees, a team of self-incriminating thieves managed to break into private property and jack about "$5,000 worth of expensive alcohol, including $800 bottles of wine and high-dollar scotch," only to forget a digital camera filled with photos of the party in progress. Interestingly, game designer Richard Garriott (Ultima Online, anyone?) actually owns the property, and has stated that he'll probably install a swank video surveillance / security system to prevent such an annoyance from happening again. But if you've been wondering how to make a quick buck in order to snag a few new pieces of kit flowing out of CeBIT, Texas police are offering "up to $1,000 in reward money" for leading investigators to the less-than-intelligent criminals.[Via Fark]
GadgetTrak hunts down stolen gadgetry for free
Since it's unlikely that we're all sharp enough to install a traceable version of SETI@home on our laptop to track down its eventual thief, and considering that the software won't exactly run on DAPs and PMPs, the GadgetTheft recovery service is stepping up to the plate to protect your goods. While gadget theft has been an unfortunately growing annoyance worldwide, devices like your iPod or Archos 604 aren't exactly likely to be found once they're swiped, but the GadgetTrak software can be installed on any USB-connecting device in order to upload the larcenist's data back to you. Essentially, users who fall victim to a gadget theft can flag the system to start tracking down any applicable IP information, location, usernames, and ISP deets that are found when the crook plugs your gizmo into their PC. Most impressive, however, is that the basic forensic data services are absolutely free, but a "Pro" service that offers up "increased location accuracy, active connection analysis / reports, and firewall workarounds" should be available shortly for an undisclosed fee. So if you're interested in adding a little protection to your currently uninsured gadgetry, and don't mind paying the low, low price of nada, be sure to hit the read link for all the juicy details.[Via Engadget Chinese]
Man attempts to steal Wiimote, assaults security
Remember how we used to say that our console was the better one because it didn't incite violence among its fanbase? That was fun while it lasted. Now all we have to go on is the price and selection of games.37-year-old Kazunari Tanaka is accused of trying to shoplift a Wiimote and a CD from a Bic Camera in Nagoya, Japan. When security guards accosted him, he (allegedly) started punching, leaving both guards injured.We won't blame the Wii for this crime, although we're sure someone will. People shoplift every day.The Wii doesn't inspire crimes against anything but televisions (against which it instills a murderous rage).[Via NeoGAF; thematically appropriate image taken from this post]
Ctrl+Alt+Del looks at the kill stealing epidemic
In one of their most recent comics Ctrl+Alt+Del talks about a topic that has escaped the public's scope and hasn't been openly discussed ... kill stealing. Kill stealing is prevalent in numerous games, but if you're a Gears of War addict you definitely know what we're talking about. Whether you have been a victim or the antagonist, Ctrl+Alt+Del opens up the gamer's glossary to educate the public about this ongoing epidemic. Please, spread the word and make it known that kill stealing is not okay. If you or a loved one suffer from obsessive kill stealing disorder please contact the Center for Kill Stealers at 1-800-I-CANT-PWN.[Via Digg]
New Zealand teen jacks Xbox 360, divulges credentials to Microsoft
Apparently, a 14-year old teenager in New Zealand doesn't visit Engadget (or use his brain) a whole lot -- you'd think that team of crooks who swiped a PlayStation, only to return for the power cord and eventually end up in police custody might have swayed him from doing the exact same thing. Not so. Oddly enough, the teen in question jacked the console and left the oh-so-critical power cable behind, but instead of devising yet another heist, he simply phoned Microsoft, gave out all his credentials (including the machine's serial number), and awaited the cable. In the meantime, the irate original owner dialed up the company as well; after discovering that his Xbox 360 had already been registered to its thief, he registered to obtain a court order to induce Microsoft to release the bandit's details. (Jailarity ensues.) So while our first PSA must not have been potent enough, we'll simply reiterate that stealing consoles probably isn't your calling if you can't even remember the accessories.[Via Xbox 360 News]
Cancer patient has Xbox 360 stolen whilst in hospital
There's inhumane, and then there's despicable, but unfortunately for a 17-year old cancer patient receiving treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, he knows all too well about both of them. A Vermont-based teenager had been suffered from osteosarcoma, bone cancer in the leg, and was "recovering from surgery" a few hundred miles away from home. Apparently, someone(s) the family actually knew broke into their home while they were obviously away, and proceeded to jack his Xbox 360 as well as "over $1,000 worth of games and DVDs" while they were at it. Local police suggest that they "do have some good leads involving current and former students at local high schools," and while none of the culprits have been apprehended just yet, folks have been more than generous in helping Jeff return to some state of normalcy by donating funds to help with family expenses, and one individual actually dropped off a new Xbox 360 console for a local radio station to deliver.[Via Xbox360Fanboy]
Thieves balk at 13-inch CRT television, refuse to steal
Although we've seen our fair share of zany criminals pulling off (or at least attempting to) incredible feats in order to snag a few good pieces of electronic kit, it seems that our era has all but eliminated the value previously associated with low-end, old fashioned electronics. Sure, there's a few folks out there shopping for bulky, cumbersome, and cheap 13-inch CRT televisions, but in numerous dodgy neighborhoods in and around Canada, researchers simply couldn't convince thieves to take one. In a ploy to track a thief from the moment the crime happened to where it ended up, the crafty schemers discretely installed a GPS device in the TV, and then proceeded to leave the functioning set in various unlocked cars around less-than-amicable boroughs for thieves to jump on. After nearly a month of trying to get a single thief in all of Canada to jack this thing, their attempts proved overwhelmingly futile. So while there's no exact moral to this story, we'll just assume that potential larcenists might be a tad more apt to pass on by your crib if you're caught watching snow-filled soaps on a 1982 RCA than say, a $10,000 plasma, but you already knew that, eh?[Thanks, Camperton]
Incessant texting gets thief to return purse
In this day and age, having someone steal your purse or wallet is a common occurrence especially in larger cities. It's not that common, though, to have someone steal your bag filled with credit cards, lots of cash, and your cellphone, only to have all of it returned it to you. That's what happened to Pan Aiying, a school teacher from the province of Shandong in China. Her bag was stolen from her while she was riding a bicycle home from work. She borrowed a friends phone to call her own only to have the call unanswered. In a desperate situation, she decided to text the thief thinking she might appeal to his morals. The text read, "Keep the 4,900 yuan ($630) if you really need it, but please return the other things to me." 21 text messages later and still no response from him until the next day when the bag appeared in her courtyard. Everything was still in the bag when she opened it. OK everyone, all at the same time now: "Awwwww!"[Via Fark]
Thieves jack 14 GPS devices, forget to turn them off
Yeah, we've seen quite a bit of mishaps happen in conjunction with operating a GPS device, and the list of brainless criminals is (fortunately) seeming to get longer each day, but this heist made the cops' jobs so easy it's almost implausible. A few crooks with a potentially bright idea set out to swipe a dozen or so cellphones from the Town of Babylon Public Works garage in Lindenhurst, NY, but unfortunately for them, the 14 units they swiped turned out to be GPS devices. As expected, Suffolk County police didn't have any qualms tracking the bandits down, and actually found the head criminal holding one of their prizes when they entered his home, as he was presumably trying to call his mother (or partners in crime) and explain all he'd accomplished. Nevertheless, the father and his 13-year old son, along with another 20-year old culprit, were all taken in on charges of grand larceny and stupidity, but at least justice prevailed, eh?[Via Fark]
Guangzhou crime dog "trained" to swipe cellphones
Alright, so we're taking this one at face value, but according to an admittedly weird report in Asia, Guangzhou residents should be on the lookout for a clever pup who looks mighty innocent, but is reportedly a "hardened criminal." After locating the dog in a Panyu District home, the owner was surprised to see the mysterious creature cease playing with his daughter, dart over to his cellphone, and make a break for the exit. According to local police, it's becoming somewhat common to see "thieves training canines" to sneak into homes and swipe cellphones for crooks to resell. While it would certainly be easy to brush this off as completely ludicrous, the idea actually isn't that far-fetched, as an English Springer Spaniel is already on patrol in UK prisons sniffing out and retrieving mobiles that were brought into the jails without consent. So if you're strolling through Guangzhou, make sure that cellie is well covered, cool?[Via Textually]
$300,000 worth of Hynix DDR RAM modules hijacked
It seems the traditional method of acquiring goods -- you know, that "money for product" approach we've been testing out for centuries -- is going to the wayside quite often these days, as yet another major heist has gone down in Taiwan. Twenty boxes of Hynix Semiconductor DDR RAM modules were stolen yesterday, as a trio of assailants reportedly used a machete and stun gun to threaten the driver. The hijacking is likely a planned, organized move, as reports say that the thieves were seen headed to the airport, where they probably hopped a flight to China. Interestingly, it was stated that "ownership of the chips is still unknown," a fact that's sure to make insurance companies drool, considering the $306,000 of missing goods that somebody is going to be out for. Incidents like this do wonders in making those $169 GPS / RFID adornments seem fairly inexpensive, eh?[Via Inquirer]
More console-related crime to stuff the stockings
At least with the Wiinjuries popping up left and right, they're primarily self-inflicted wounds that don't involve the police, but it seems the Xbox 360 (and old Xbox, sometimes) and the PS3 are jacking up crime rates in cities everywhere. While we already knew hot game consoles brought out the absolute worst in people, we've got two more stories to persuade you to watch your back when snagging that last unit from the store's stockroom. After lucking up and grabbing herself an oh-so-coveted PlayStation 3 in a Florida retailer, Missy Robinson was followed to her home and held at gunpoint (along with her brother). Of course, she intelligently surrendered the console in exchange for safety, but she's not apt to go console hunting again anytime soon. On the Microsoft side, dedicated thieves "burrowed through the back wall of the video game store and stole 13 Xbox 360 game consoles." Notably, employees reported a scattered mess of PS3 boxes, but when the bandits realized they were all empty display cartons, they jacked the Xbox 360 assortment in order to not go home empty-handed. Look folks, we realize the markup on eBay is fairly extreme, but it's probably less costly than the bail money you'd need to put up after pulling a stunt like this.Read - Woman held at gunpoint for PS3Read - Burrowing bandits snag 13 Xbox 360s
EBayer reselling free GameFAQs guides [update 1]
Via the SomethingAwful forums comes the story of a GameFAQs guide writer who found digital copies of his Kingdom Hearts guides being resold on by a third party eBay seller without permission. The seller, who also sells guides for dozens of other games, claims to hold the copyright for the guides, which are apparently exact duplicates of the GameFAQs versions, only with the true author's information removed.The seller has reportedly brushed off requests by the author to stop selling the guide, leading many SA forum-goers to recommend legal action. We couldn't agree more -- this guy deserves to pay for profiting off of the work of others -- but we can't help but be impressed by his ability to fool gullible buyers into spending almost $10 for the type of digital guide that is freely available online. Caveat emptor![Update: Fixed typo.][Thanks Sanchez]
Wisconsin / NIU players huddle up, steal an Xbox
As if breaking into a home, jacking a mysterious PlayStation console, only to return for the power cord used to hold victims captive with wasn't zany enough, now we've got a Big Ten all-star (and his twin brother) reportedly swiping an Xbox. While nothing's been "confirmed," Wisconsin cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu and Northern Illinois safety William Ikegwuonu have been accused of "breaking into an off-campus apartment and trying to steal an Xbox console." Both players now face burglary and criminal trespassing charges, and if convicted, will probably not face the maximum "four years in prison" penalty. Interestingly, Wisconsin is refusing to suspend their guy until "all the facts are gathered," presumably hoping to squeak him in the lineup for the team's January bowl, while NIU has already dropped the axe on ole William, who didn't start a single game all season. But hey, at least he can simulate the team's Poinsettia Bowl matchup on a (rightfully purchased) Xbox, right?UPDATE: Looks like U-Dub did the right thing and temporarily suspended Jack from practice and bowl competition, however their athletic director did not that this decision could change "as more facts become available." We shall see.[Thanks, Eric]
Crooks tie up victims with power cord whilst stealing PlayStation
While this one came oh-so-close to being filed under the ongoing PS3 crime spree chronicles, the inability to pinpoint the PlayStation unit crooks nabbed as one of the highly-coveted "3" models forced us to clump this in with the smorgasbord of other (general) utterly dumb criminal acts. While it wouldn't surprise us to find that the armed burglars who ransacked a Cincinnati home were indeed after the mighty lucrative PS3, their bafflingly high level of stupidity leaves us to wonder if it wasn't a PlayStation 2 (or worse, a PSOne). The robbers reportedly bum rushed the house with their eyes on the prize, tied up the victims with a "PlayStation power cord," bolted out while laughing evilly, and then realized they needed the very cable they left behind. Similar to the crook who jacked a TV but returned for the remote, these guys apparently forgot the keys to pulling off an even marginally successful heist, but thankfully didn't harm the poor family they intruded upon. The wonders of humanity will never cease.[Thanks, Matt M.]
Xbox 360 crime wave hits home
Xbox 360-related crime doesn't really hit home until it happens in your neighborhood. This armed robbery happened just a few miles from my house:Three black men wearing masks and carrying handguns walked into Funcoland on Concord Pike Saturday night. They held two clerks and a customer at bay and stole 8 XBox gaming systems valued at more than 3 thousand dollars.They also took cash from the register. No one was hurt.That buys alot of Similac. Or crack. Hey, if you're risking 25 to life, why not grab a Vision Camera and an extra controller on the way out?
Parents file larceny charges over lengthy cellphone confiscation
Sure, time is money, and nobody has time to wait around to make a phone call, but two parents in Lone Grove, Oklahoma are exemplifying the bounds of being impatient by filing larceny charges against a high school principal and superintendent. Based on an estranged rule that we seriously hope isn't widespread, students are not allowed to have any sort of "wireless telecommunications device" on their person during school hours, and when a cavalier student's mobile rang in the midst of class, it got snatched -- for five days. Based on the "school handbook," officials have the right to confiscate cellphones for a full business week if a student dares to bring one on campus, and reports explain that the superintendent has no inkling to return the device a moment too early. While we can understand how hopeless the poor child must feel without his connection to, well, everything, we're hoping the charges lead to fewer restrictions at Lone Grove High School (and beyond) for everyone's sake, right kids?[Via Fark]
PS3 crime spree!
We you know y'all want your damn PlayStation 3, but really, violence isn't the answer. Unless it's virtual violence, but no one's set up a multiplayer match where the winner lands a PS3, or unlocked the Hot Coffee 2 mod that enables you to drive-by people standing in lines. But we have had eye-witness reports of depraved gamer violence; our own Boy Genius let us know he personally witnessed what came "close to a riot" at his local Circuit City. Waseem from Michigan told us how his local Best Buy kicked everyone out of line at 2.30AM this morning in the 30-degree weather, just to have people converge and duke it out for their same spot at 8:00AM. Like, literally fight. Seriously everybody, keep it clean, keep it real. It's just a damned video game console.P.S. -If you've seen any more incidents in the news or in person, please let us know!Update: We take it back, you want to be violent about the PS3? We've got a target for you: none other than former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards. First his son makes fun of other, less privileged children for buying their shoes at Wal-Mart (god forbid!), but then he has his aide call their local Wally and ask to cut in line to be assured a PS3. (Seriously, he's not in office anymore, why the hell does he even need an aide?) Turning lemons into lemonade, Wal-Mart has issued a press release both praising Edwards' selection for a retailer, and chiding his selfishness: "... and while the rest of America's working families are waiting patiently in line, Senator Edwards wants to cut to the front. While, we cannot guarantee that Sen. Edwards will be among one of the first to obtain a PlayStation3, we are certain Sen. Edwards will be able to find great gifts for everyone on his Christmas list..." There, you want someone to riot on? You've got your man.Update 2: Although we're still not sure why Edwards is going around telling stories about making fun of people's shoes, it's only fair to cover his version of this whole Wal-Mart brouhaha. According the former Senator, one of his volunteers did indeed try to grease the wheels and butt in front of the proverbial PS3 line, but the "young kid" in question was not acting under orders and apparently just name-dropped Edwards in order to secure a console for himself. Edwards went on to say that the volunteer "feels terrible" about what he did (does he really? or does he just feel bad because he got caught?), although he didn't pass up a chance to chide the 'Mart on its press release, arguing that the company is trying to "divert attention from its own problems." Point being, Edwards is not a shady character -- he just hires shady people.Read - Gunmen rob California store of PS3s in the nerdiest heist ever (ok, maybe the second nerdiest ever).Read - 10 to 12 people robbed in PS3 line (dubious, but possible). [Via Digg]Read - Sheriffs shut down another California store for rowdy behavior.Read - Police break up NY SonyStyle store fight.Read - Brawl breaks out at another Wally when manager plays musical PlayStation chairs. Seriously, what an idiot. [Thanks Kyle D.]Read - Shots were apparently fired at a Texas Wally. Pics here and here of the 5-0. [Thanks, Jason]Read - Two armed, masked robbers overtook a customer in Springfield. [Thanks, Jason]Watch - North Fresno / Merced had stampede-riot insanity. [Thanks, Jonathan]
Quick-footed thieves snag 39 iPods in 15 seconds
Okay, so iPods might be easy to flip on eBay, but cruising around with 39 hot PMPs in the trunk of your car (and a stash of PlayStation 2 games to boot) probably isn't the best way to welcome yourself to Utah. Three New Yorkers apparently took those crime dramas a bit too seriously as they acquired "maps of every Target store in Utah and Nevada," and flew off to Riverdale with a heist in mind. When the thieves couldn't break open the iPod display at their primary target (ahem), they sped off to execute plan B, but alerted authorities to their ill intentions in the process. Nevertheless, the crooks finally pulled off the job with utmost haste, as they stuffed 39 iPods (and possibly a few PS2 titles) down a presumably gargantuous pair of "oversized pants" in a blistering 15 seconds. Although the second time proved to be a charm, their sloppiness in round one landed them in police custody less than 24 hours after arriving in the Beehive State. While flying across the country to jack $7,000 worth of 'Pods might make for good television, you're probably better off trying to outwit one of those yet-to-be-altered cash-flinging ATMs if you're feeling frisky.[Via PowerPage]
