Really Stupid Criminal Tricks

[BAC]

It's a pity that stupidity isn't painful.  And did you ever notice that idiots seem to come in swarms?

A.K.A. political parties.

[tt11758]

Stupid people in large groups elect all our politicians other stupid people to meet in large groups.

There, I fixed it for you.   

[blackwolfe]

Stupid people in large groups = government in DC.

[PegLeg45]

Stupid people in large groups = government in DC. = lot of pain for the 'people'

There, how 'bout now?

[fightingquaker13]

Folks we may have found our winners!
fightingquaker13


EXCLUSIVE: Couple appear to be shoplifting pros on 'Dr. Phil' show
Televised account precedes home search by federal task force
By COLLEEN MENSCHING - Staff Writer | Friday, April 3, 2009 10:15 AM PDT ∞

 SAN MARCOS ---- A couple whose Leslie Court home was raided last week by federal agents appear to have admitted on national TV last year to being professional shoplifters.

Laura Eaton said Monday that the search warrant used by authorities Thursday to seize toys, a car and other belongings from her home was connected to a TV appearance she and her husband, Matthew Allen Eaton, made in a November episode of "Dr. Phil" hosted by Phil McGraw.

On a presentation of the show on Dr. Phil's Web site, the couple ---- identified as "Laura" and her husband, referred to as both "Allen" and "Matthew" ---- discussed stealing merchandise from several states.

See video from the "Dr. Phil" show

They were videotaped on a three-day trip with their children, during which they said they hit 27 stores and estimated they had stolen more than $5,000 worth of merchandise.

"Depending on how the kids get, we'll stay today and tomorrow and probably come home on Sunday," Laura told the camera.

In a telephone interview Monday, Laura Eaton said she was aware the couple were under scrutiny.

"There are no charges and no arrests," she said. "This is just a routine investigation."

Eaton declined to say more on the advice of her attorney.

Thursday's warrant was served as part of a fraud investigation conducted by the multi-agency San Diego Regional Fraud Task Force, said Greg Meyer, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service's San Diego office.

On Monday, Meyer declined to comment on what he called an "ongoing investigation." He confirmed that no indictments were issued in the case, and no arrests had been made.

A representative of the "Dr. Phil" show declined Monday to discuss "unresolved police matters" or to answer questions about the show's policies regarding guests who admit to criminal activity.

The episode that Laura Eaton said featured the Eatons on their three-day spree was titled "Shoplifting Confessions." In it, the woman identified as Laura said the couple amassed nearly $1 million in stolen goods over the past seven years.

At one point during the trip, "Matthew" guessed that he had taken about $700 of "mostly Lego stuff" that day.

Last week, items made by the Lego Group toy company were listed on an Internet auction Web page attached to the couple's Leslie Court address.

There were seven live auctions on the site Thursday, but none on Monday. The auction page had not been disabled.

On the show, "Matthew" talked about different strategies he employed.

In some cases, he said, he hid store shopping bags in his pants so he could fill them up and give the appearance of being a legitimate customer. In others, his wife would buy an item and give him the receipt so he could walk out of the store with the exact same item ---- without paying for it.

"If I would get stopped at the door, I would have my receipt right there," he said.

"What are you going to do about it?" he said he'd ask store employees.

When McGraw asked the couple how much stolen merchandise they had collected, "Laura" answered, "Our whole house, pretty much."

She told McGraw that she knew transporting stolen goods across state lines was a federal offense, and McGraw admonished the couple.

"They're going to catch you," he told them. "You make $100,000 a year (stealing), you have no job and you have three children. What's going to happen to those children if both of their parents go to jail?"

"Matthew" told McGraw that he and his wife appeared on the show to discourage themselves from shoplifting.

"I think it's something to help us stop, because my cover's blown," he said.

Contact staff writer Colleen Mensching at (760) 739-6675 or cmensching@nctimes.com.

Updates

SAN MARCOS: Future of alleged shoplifting couple 'up in the air,' wife says

REGION: Vista deputy tipped off feds to alleged shoplifters from 'Dr. Phil'

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[Big Frank]

And that's why we all have to pay higher prices for everything we buy.