Hey PBS, You're Not the Only Ones with Educational TV!
When Penni Waters (pictured) walked out of a Lowe's with a cordless drill in her pocketbook that she hadn't paid for, the shoplifting detectors didn't go off because she lined her bag with aluminum foil, a trick she says she learned from watching the show Cops, according to police in Zephyrhills, FL.
Although Waters, 48, successfully employed the alarm-busting criminal tactic she learned on TV, a real live human security guard allegedly saw her walk out with the merchandise, which foiled her alarm-foiling foil plan.
She was charged with petit theft and use of an anti-shoplifting device and taken to Land O' Lakes jail.
I guess you could say that where's there's a drill there's a way...but you might get caught anyway.
Note: You can watch and learn from Cops tonight and every weeknight at 7P e/p on truTV! But maybe don't try their stunts at home, OK?
PS Don't forget to vote in the latest, greatest Dumb Criminal of the Week poll right here!
Hmmm, I gotta stop drooling over the officers. I missed that ep totally.
Posted by: Rebecca | 03/26/09 6:18PM
Rebecca: You = Hilarious!
Posted by: Susie | 03/26/09 6:35PM
I don't know about dumb criminals but I've never heard of "petit" theft.....petty?????? theft maybe.
Posted by: Shelagh | 03/26/09 6:59PM
Shelagh -- I'm not infallible, but on this it's right, I think. Google petit theft and you'll see it's definitely something they charge you with in Florida!
Posted by: Susie | 03/26/09 7:26PM
Great!! I can just see the new commercial for Reynolds Wrap!! Makes clean up AND shoplifting a breeze!!!
Posted by: Glynne1964 | 03/26/09 8:15PM
She's a tweaker.
Posted by: Cort | 03/26/09 8:28PM
I worked for a contractor at a home depot, they would take the returns out of the carts and take them to returns and get cash, employees say it too but they said " why should we get involved with that they gave us 2 cent raises " and they even put in them registers that you cash out your selves, butt the real DUMMY S are law enforcement
Posted by: george m | 03/27/09 8:09AM
It s 75 % florida on this site , stealing and them beachs , great place they even got a senator that take space ship and any flight he can FREE on the taxpayers
Posted by: george matsos | 03/27/09 8:11AM
Well, this is what happens in a techno world. Everyone is so concerned about getting around the technology that they forget humans have observational skills too! People are still smarter than machines...at least the cops are. The criminals, maybe not.
Posted by: Laurel | 03/27/09 11:11AM
it is pronounced petty but it is spelled petit theft.
Posted by: Danielle | 03/27/09 3:53PM
Danielle is right: Petit is the correct spelling for what most pronounce 'petty'.
Posted by: Suze | 03/28/09 5:26PM
I was also amused by the use of "petit".
The dictionary says:
petty theft
: theft of property or services whose value is below a specified amount called also petit theft
Posted by: piktor | 03/28/09 6:48PM
The awesome part of her story is this: she saw the aluminum foil trick on the show Cops. What do you normally see on Cops? People being busted by...wait for it...COPS!
She's thinking, hey, it worked for that guy...even though he did just get arrested...duuuuuuhhhhh.
Posted by: Kibbs | 03/29/09 10:33AM
This is one dumb criminal, but in this case may the show "Cops" was a little dumber. Most shows that have something on it that may be illegal oe dangerous are careful to leave out the important information to make it work. Maybe the producers of "Cops" should ask "Mythbusters" how to do this.
Posted by: Dennis | 03/29/09 12:49PM
Damn she look like she need to put the meth pipe down
Posted by: chris | 03/29/09 2:26PM
I'd do her. LOL.
Posted by: Randy Darrah | 03/30/09 7:18PM