Self-Incriminating Criminals

Solving crimes can’t be accomplished without good evidence. These criminals all left such incriminating evidence that there was no mystery to solve. From the frightfully obvious to the downright stupid, these would-be masterminds were all their own worst enemies.

A Jewel Thief in Zurich left evidence better than a smudged fingerprint when he cut his finger off in broken glass. The Police had him in their records, and were able to identify and arrest the criminal within two hours. A burglar who broke into a shoe store left behind a bail slip from a past offense.

There were a rash of self incrimination that was reported in 1985. A Plymouth man who broke into a television shop during a blizzard started local police on a classic case of sleuthing. His footprints in the fresh snow led them straight to his front door. Another man burgled a house later that year leaving behind a locket with his name and address. A German man in Frankfurt stole several cameras in a camera shop and left behind his new passport photo.

The most obvious mistake is seen in the story of Clive Bunyan who stole over 100 English pounds from a store near Scarborough, using a fake gun. He left his motorcycle right out front and wore his helmet for a disguise and a quick getaway. The only hiccup in his perfectly planned crime was that his name was printed boldly on his helmet in easy to read one inch high letters. At least Clive is not alone. He unwittingly placed himself in the company of a group of very thoroughly self incriminating criminals.

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