CAUGHT IN THE CLOUD How One Thief’s Selfie Landed Him in Hot Water
In what could be a plot twist straight out of a sitcom, a brazen thief turned himself into an unwitting internet star after his phone-snatching heist went incredibly wrong. Picture this: A cool evening, a group of movie-goers casually strolling down their Houston neighborhood looking forward to a bucket of popcorn and a new blockbuster. Enter stage left: three not-
so-well-intentioned young men with a half-baked plan. The trio of misguided musketeers approached the unsuspecting group with violent bravado. Brandishing a handgun, one of the alleged culprits demanded the victims’ phones and their respective passcodes. They even escalated the drama by pressing the gun to one victim’s head, threatening a finale no one wanted to see. Then, the robbers fled in their four-door white sedan, stolen wallets and phones in tow. But here comes the comic relief! In a blunder no one saw coming, one of the criminal “masterminds” decided it was his time to shine. He recorded a video of himself tossing gang signs and flaunting his newly stolen phone. Unfortunately for him, but luckily for law enforcement (and
comedy lovers everywhere), he uploaded this gem to the cloud. Thanks to his cloud-cast snafu, the authorities could get a full image of the newly minted most wanted. You could almost hear his fellow thieves’ facepalms as the video debuted on the victim’s account. The Houston Police promptly uploaded Mr. Selfie Bandit’s solo performance to their YouTube channel. Now, they’re hoping this unexpected audition tape will help put the fool of a thief behind bars. So, let this be a lesson to all would-be criminals: If you must commit a crime, maybe leave the selfies and social media out of it. We guess it’s true that not everyone is cut out for a life in front of the camera, especially when it leads straight to the slammer.
y R e q u e s t s
3 Odd Tales of Celebrity Wills
Some celebrities make their most significant and surprising impressions on history after they’re gone. Proving that no two legacy plans are alike, here are three examples of just how unique a will can be when someone has the vision and funds to make their wildest wishes come true. The Maltese Millionaire During her notorious life, New York hotel mogul Leona Helmsley was equally recognized as one of America’s wealthiest people and derided as one of its most wicked. As just one example, the media named her “The Queen of Mean” after she evicted her son’s widow and child from one of her properties after he died in 1981. She displayed her misanthropy
again upon her passing in 2007 when it was revealed that she had disinherited two of her grandchildren but established a $12 million trust for the care of her Maltese dog, Trouble. While Helmsley had earned the ire of her fellow humans, it’s safe to say at least one member of the canine community had a decidedly different opinion of her. A Visionary’s Final Frontier From the mid-1960s to his passing in 1991, “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry showed science fiction fans on Earth the wonder of reaching for the stars. Fittingly, he requested in his will that his cremated remains be sent into space. His wish was granted in 1992 when his ashes became one with the universe after being placed on board the space shuttle Columbia.
Departing With a Party In October 1970, the music world lost one of its greatest stars with the untimely passing of 27-year-old Janis Joplin. Despite gaining worldwide fame for his raspy, soulful voice and now-classic rock albums, she could not conquer her reckless habits in time to save her life. In the spirit of her rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, she had allotted $2,500 — approximately $20,000 in today’s money — for a massive party held in her honor “so my friends can have a ball when I’m gone.” Adhering to her wishes, around 200 friends gathered a few weeks later at the Lion’s Share in San Anselmo, California, to celebrate her life in the manner she had intended.
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