Friday, July 18, 2008

Police say beer thief left dripping trail

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (UPI) -- Police in a West Virginia town say a man who broke into a car and stole 11 cold cans of beer left an easy trail of water drops.

Officers in South Charleston who responded to a complaint of a car break-in last week noticed the water droplets, the Charleston Daily Mail reported. They have filed a complaint in Kanawha County charging Karl Stewart, 49, of South Charleston with destruction of property and petit larceny.

The beer was sitting in a cooler in the car when Stewart allegedly broke a rear window.

Police followed the trail to a house, not Stewart's residence, on the same street.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Lawn decoration returned, with photos

PORTLAND, Ore. (UPI) -- A Portland, Ore., woman who had given up hope of ever seeing her missing ceramic dog again said the item has returned -- with photos of its travels.

Edwina Cramer-Norris said she had assumed the dog was gone for good when it disappeared last month, but then she began receiving postcards addressed "To Master" from "Lucky Dog," KPTV, Portland, Ore., reported Monday.

Cramer-Norris said she saw a blue van leave her driveway Sunday and when she went outside to investigate, she found her missing lawn decoration sitting in a makeshift dog house alongside a photo album documenting its adventures. She said the pictures depict the dog with a family at locations including DisneyWorld, Graceland, the Mississippi River and New Orleans.

She said a note accompanying the pictures explained that the dog had needed a vacation from Oregon because the weather was too rainy.

"It's a strange thing," she said. "We're happy to have him back and it gives us something to share with others. (It's) some kind of a strange story."

Cramer-Norris said the missing dog returned with two new additions to the family -- a pair of ceramic puppies.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Retailer under fire for big bra surcharge

LONDON (UPI) -- British retailer Marks & Spencer has been pressured to justify a $4 surcharge on bras sized DD or larger, following complaints from large-breasted women.

The company claims the surcharge is necessary because larger bras are more difficult to construct, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Critics say the fee amounts to discrimination against curvy women.

Outraged shopper Beckie Williams said she organized a group on the social networking site Facebook to convince people to get Marks & Spencer to reverse the policy.

"Busty ladies, and anyone else with a vested interest in busty ladies, in fact anyone with a vested interest in simple justice, join forces to end this blatant discrimination," the Busts 4 Justice Internet group urges.

A Marks & Spencer spokesman said many women are "happy to pay a small premium" for the extra work that goes into making the bras.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Police nab suspect in his skivvies

HARTFORD, Wis. (UPI) -- Police in Hartford, Wis., said they have arrested a man who allegedly ditched his clothes after a robbery to make a getaway wearing only his underwear.

Police said the 37-year-old man, whose name was not released, robbed a convenience store with a fake handgun after purchasing a pack of cigarettes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The robber wore a pair of blue coveralls, but police said they discovered him riding a bicycle wearing only his underwear -- with the unopened pack of cigarettes and $412, the exact amount taken from the store, stuffed inside.

In between the store and bike path where police found the man, officers discovered a pair of blue coveralls and a fake handgun. Police said the suspect told them he was robbed by a man who only wanted his clothing and let him keep the money.

Prosecutors said the suspect, who was being held in Washington County Jail, was expected to be charged with armed robbery.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Monday, July 14, 2008

Man's ashes said tossed in parking dispute

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (UPI) -- A Florida man may face criminal charges for allegedly spilling the remains of a woman's late father while arguing with her about a parking spot, police said.

The woman said she came home after being away for five days to find a "belligerent drunk neighbor" at her Okaloosa County home, the Northwest Fla. Daily News reported Monday.

She said her daughter went outside to find the neighbor sitting in her car after they heard someone honking the horn.

The woman told police the man started yelling and swearing at her before she attempted taking a wooden container carrying her late father's ashes out of the car.

The man allegedly knocked the container from her grasp, police said. A bag fell from the box and a portion of the remains in it were scattered on the ground, the newspaper said.

The woman said he tried to dump the bag after she told him what was in it and finally let go after it was torn open.

The man told police he consumed about four beers prior to the scuffle and has denied allegations he dumped the ashes, the newspaper said.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Friday, July 11, 2008

Wanted man stopped to help police

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (UPI) -- Police in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, said they arrested a suspected serial burglar after he stopped to offer assistance to two officers.

The police said William Vickers, 46, stopped at about 1 a.m. Sunday to offer assistance to two officers who were attempting to help a woman who had locked herself out of her car, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Tuesday.

The officers told Vickers they had the situation well in hand but as the seemingly good Samaritan began walking away and into the light of a street lamp, one of the officers recognized him as a suspect in the After Midnight Burglar case.

Vickers is suspected of multiple burglaries four years ago as well as a break-in reported last week. Police fliers posted around the city bear the suspect's face.

"It was nice for Willie to offer to help, and he probably has more experience getting into cars than our two officers on the scene," Police Chief Martin Lentz said.

However, Vickers, who allegedly fought against the officers and damaged the woman's car, now faces multiple charges including burglary, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. He was being held in Cleveland Heights Jail.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International