All That Trouble For Nothing: Another shoplifter was apprehended after trying to sneak out some cosmetics without paying. This sneaky shoplifter even went to the trouble of removing all of the bar codes from the items before stuffing them into her purse. After concealing the two lipsticks and eye shadow in her purse, the shoplifter then went to the checkout line (and this is the part that gets me) and paid for several other items. Needless to say, the girl was immediately caught and police exchanged the stolen cosmetics for a citation.
Fire! Fire! Cool!: Apparently, some of us get all hot and bothered at the idea of setting things on fire. Several acts of arson were reported last week; among the victims, a local golf course. An arsonist decided that nothing could be funnier than to steal a golf cart and then set it on fire. The damages were not quite so amusing, as the crispy cart sunk the course for about $2,500.
Where's The Halloween Spirit?: The festivities of this past holiday apparently got a little out of hand in one Charlotte neighborhood. Several unidentified ghouls opted for the "trick" rather than the "treat" and caused some damage to several home decorations. Four homes in all were affected, and homeowners reported to police that their decorations bore the brunt of the assault. The casualties included a cement statue, several strands of Halloween lights, various outdoor ornaments and a smashed pumpkin.
Wired: Reckless driving doesn't even begin to describe what one man committed behind the wheel. Employees of a local restaurant looked on in disbelief as this mad motorist drove directly into a fence and, without any lost momentum, kept on going without a second's hesitation. The fence received the most damage from the collision, amounting to over $3,000 worth. The wire fence apparently didn't cause enough damage to slow the guy.
Tailgate Hate: A truck owner's tailgating abilities were suddenly eliminated last week. Someone completely removed and then stole the truck's tailgate while the vehicle was parked near the man's place of employment. Neither the truck owner nor police have an idea who would commit such an act or for what reasons. While police continue to search for the missing part, this truck owner will have to find another way to tailgate.
That Stinks: Another truck owner was in for a smelly surprise upon arriving at his vehicle. Someone had dumped a good amount of raw garbage and eggs all over his truck. As if this wasn't bad enough, once the filth was removed, it was apparent that the paint of the truck had been severely damaged by the slosh.
Crime Hurts: A car thief learned firsthand about the repercussions of tampering with other people's property. It appears that this thief was attempting to steal a car when the car's owner and his friend happened to return. When the car owner realized what was taking place, he and his friend immediately took action and were able to "detain" the man. They managed to put the thief inside the very car he was trying to steal and kept him there until police arrived. A medic also arrived on the scene soon thereafter to transport the thief to a local hospital -- guess the car owner and his buddy were a little less than gentle in his detainment... oops.
I'll Show You: Several thieves made off with a man's property last week. The man assumes that the culprits are the people who had recently been evicted from the residence. It seems that these spiteful thieves entered the property after their eviction and decided to express just how they felt about being kicked out. So they stole the washer and dryer, several wooden shelves, stereo equipment, and curtain rods from various rooms in the house -- they even took the shower curtain.
Blotter items are chosen from the files of the Charlotte Police Department.
