10 - Yes, 10! - Dumb Criminals
Stuff You Should Know's podcast delves into the amusing world of hapless criminals. The summary recounts various incidents where robbers and burglars found themselves in comical predicaments due to their own ineptitude.
From a thief unable to operate a manual transmission during a carjacking to a woefully unprepared individual attempting to rob a gun shop with just a baseball bat and a knife, these anecdotes showcase the absurd lengths that some criminals go to — and the laughable consequences they face. Other tales involve a burglar leaving his phone number at the scene of his intended crime and another mistakenly believing burglary is only illegal at night. These stories offer a lighthearted glimpse into the boundless bounds of human folly.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the May 9, 2024 episode of the Stuff You Should Know
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
Funny stories of criminals making silly mistakes
Robber couldn't drive stick shift during attempted carjacking
As reported, Maganga Maganga, 17, threatened a mother with a gun during a school run in Omaha, Nebraska, forcing her out of her manual transmission car. However, unable to operate the stick shift, he abandoned the vehicle after jerking it forward a few yards and fled on foot, only to be caught soon after.
Robber brought baseball bat and knife to rob a gun shop
In Washington County, Oregon, Derek Mosley attempted to rob Discount Gun Sales armed with just a baseball bat and a knife. The manager thwarted him by holding him at gunpoint until police arrived.
Man tried to break into his mom's house in broad daylight
James Blankenship was caught by police hiding in a crawl space after attempting to burglarize his mother's house in Willoughby, Ohio in broad daylight. He wrongly believed burglary was only illegal at night.
Robber left his phone number to return and rob a muffler shop later
Reuben Zarate attempted to rob Jose Cida's muffler shop in Chicago but left his phone number, promising to return when the safe could be opened. Cida called the police, who shot Zarate in the back when he returned, leading to legal action.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- A manual transmission car, also known as a stick shift, requires the driver to manually shift gears using a gear stick and a clutch pedal. This type of transmission gives the driver more control over the vehicle's speed and power delivery compared to automatic transmissions. Operating a stick shift involves coordinating the clutch pedal, gear stick, and accelerator pedal to smoothly shift gears while driving. It requires practice to master the coordination needed for smooth gear changes and driving experience.
- Burglary is the act of entering a building illegally with the intent to commit a crime, typically theft. It is a serious criminal offense that can lead to legal consequences such as fines, imprisonment, and a criminal record. The severity of the punishment can vary based on factors like the location of the crime, any weapons used, and the criminal history of the offender. Burglary laws aim to protect individuals and their property from unauthorized entry and theft.
- Leaving a phone number as a criminal tactic is a seemingly illogical move where a criminal provides their contact information during or after a crime. This action can be driven by overconfidence, a false sense of security, or even as a way to deceive or delay suspicion. In some cases, criminals may use this tactic to create a false sense of trust or to appear less threatening, only to exploit the situation later. However, this strategy often backfires, leading to their identification and capture by law enforcement.
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Funny stories of criminals making silly mistakes
From botched carjackings to misguided robbery attempts, criminals sometimes make comical errors during their unlawful endeavors. Here are some stories where things didn't quite go to plan.
Robber couldn't drive stick shift during attempted carjacking
In Omaha, Nebraska, Maganga Maganga, a 17-year-old, attempted to hijack a vehicle during a mother's school run. She complied when he threatened her with a gun, but he couldn't operate the manual transmission. Flustered, he tinkered with various controls, including the lights and windshield wipers, and only managed to jerk the car forward a few yards. Eventually, he abandoned the car on the sidewalk and fled on foot, only to be caught by the police soon after.
Robber brought baseball bat and knife to rob a gun shop
In a classic case of bringing a knife to a gunfight, Derek Mosley tried to rob Discount Gun Sales in Washington County, Oregon, with a baseball bat and a knife. He smashed a display case and attempted to steal a firearm but was thwarted by the gun store manager, who held him at bay with his own loaded gun until the authorities arrived.
Man tried to break into his mom's house in broad daylight
James Blankenship learned a hard lesson when he decided to break into his mother's house in Willoughby, Ohio. Spotted by her, he fled and hid in a crawl space and was caught by the police. He protested his arrest, under the impression that burglary was only a crime if committed at night.
Robber left his phone number to return and rob a muffler shop later
Reuben Zarate's muffler shop robbery attempt turned into a farce when he gave his phone number to the manager, Jose Cida, promising to return later when the safe could be ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Funny stories of criminals making silly mistakes
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Maganga Maganga, a 17-year-old, attempted to hijack a car in Omaha, Nebraska but struggled to drive it due to it being a manual transmission vehicle. This led to a comical situation where he couldn't operate the car properly, causing him to abandon it and flee on foot. He was later apprehended by the police.
- Derek Mosley attempted to rob Discount Gun Sales in Washington County, Oregon, using a baseball bat and a knife. The gun store manager defended the store with a loaded gun until the authorities arrived. Mosley's attempt was unsuccessful due to the manager's quick actions.
- James Blankenship attempted to break into his mother's house in Willoughby, Ohio, but was caught by her. He fled and hid in a crawl space before being apprehended by the police. He mistakenly be ...
Counterarguments
...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
