This list of 10 bizarre crimes showcases the strange and sometimes humorous events that unfold as a result of criminal activities. From the theft of a shark from a San Antonio aquarium to the great emu escape in Australia, these crimes involve unusual animals, props, and methods. The theft of $1 million worth of caviar by a New York City police officer and the use of a pink taser during three bank robberies in Pennsylvania are also included. These events highlight the odd and sometimes comical antics that lead to criminal charges and arrests around the world.
10 Bizarre Crimes That Actually Happened
1. The Case of the Stolen Shark
In 2018, a man walked into the San Antonio Aquarium and stole a small horn shark by smuggling it out in a baby stroller. He later denied the theft, but police found the shark alive in a house aquarium.
2. The Caper of the Caviar Thief
A New York City police officer nicknamed “The Caviar Cop” in 2014 plead guilty to stealing $1 million worth of the delicacy, which he resold to pay for cars and vacations.
3. The Robbery with a Baby as a Prop
In 2017, a group robbed a Florida convenience store with a baby in a car seat in the getaway car. When they got caught, the group claimed they were filming a music video, but the baby’s mother denied any involvement.
4. The Heist of the Maple Syrup Reserve
Back in 2011, a group stole $18.7 million worth of maple syrup stored in Canada’s maple syrup reserve. The alleged leader plead guilty to theft, fraud and trafficking a stolen good in 2016, but the syrup was never recovered.
5. The Theft of a Human Toe
For nearly 40 years, the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, Canada, had been known for serving a “sourtoe cocktail” – a drink with a real human toe in it that patrons were to touch with their lips. In 2017, a man stole the toe at gunpoint, but after a desperate public appeal, it was returned anonymously.
6. The Purse Snatching Pig
In 2018, a pig was caught on camera stealing a purse from a woman in an inner-city shopping area in China. The purse was eventually returned, but the pig was hailed as a local celebrity.
7. The Drive-Thru Beer Bandit
In 2017, a Texas man drove his car directly into a convenience store, loaded up the car with beer and cigarettes, then drove out in reverse. He later admitted to being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
8. The Trilogy of Taser Crimes
In 2010, a man in Pennsylvania robbed three banks with a pink Taser, before being identified and arrested by police. The man reportedly used the Taser to subdue bank tellers and customers, while yelling “This is a robbery!”
9. The Great Emu Escape
In 2019, Australian police apprehended two young men who had stolen an emu from a local wildlife park, leading it on a wild police chase in their car before releasing it in a public park. The emu was safely returned to the park.
10. The Con Artist Tuna Fisherman
In 2015, a man in California posed as a legitimate tuna fisherman, but instead caught and sold more than $1.5 million worth of undersized and illegally caught fish. He was eventually caught by federal agents and sentenced to prison.
From stolen sharks to emu escapes, these 10 bizarre crimes are just a small selection of the strange and sometimes humorous stories that emerge from criminal activities around the world.