French Police Assist Burglar Robbing Jewelry Store

Yeahp, that sounds about right:

The key to a successful burglary? Try the French police

PARIS (AFP) - A swindler posing as the owner of a jewelery store outside Paris managed to steal a set of luxury pens and watches with the unwitting help of local police and a locksmith, police said on Saturday.

Claiming to be the owner of a jewelery store a few blocks away, a 30-year-old man called in at the police station in Enghien-les-Bains, a small town northwest of Paris, at around midnight on Saturday last week.

The man, identified only as Yves, told the officers he had lost his keys and needed their help to get into the shop. They kindly obliged, calling in a locksmith to pry open the door.

The locksmith became suspicious, however, after the man reached for the shop's display counters, grabbing a handful of fountain pens and watches -- among them a Rolex.

He then fled carrying 10,000 in stolen Euros, but police raided his apartment the next day.

Okay, now I see how the Oil For Food scandal happened.

One question: What kind of imbecile was this guy? The police are obviously stupid, yes; but then, this was so brazen-- actually asking for their help to break in-- that you could kind of imagine them just assuming the guy was legit.

But once the police have let you inside, why would you immediately begin looting the place, with them watching? Shouldn't you just say, "Gee, it's cold in here, let me adjust the thermostat; would you fellas like something to drink?" and then rob the place after they've left?

This guy was 99% of the way to a perfect crime. Only two sorts of people would even think to try this: an ultra-cool intuitive genius with brotosaurus-balls, or a total moron. He's obviously the latter.

GregS, again. At this point I should just call this site GregS HQ.

posted by Ace at 05:05 PM

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