Net Crimes & Misdemeanors

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Authorities probe game character theft http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/12/2 7/Authorities-probe-game-character-theft/U PI-64841356629202/ Authorities in Turkey said they are investigating after a college student reported someone hacked his Knight Online game account and stole his character. Ahmet Kaya, 18, of Kutahya province, said he spent eight years developing his character in the multiplayer role-playing game and he eventually decided to put the character up for sale, Hurriyet Daily News/Dogan News Agency reported Thursday. "My character costs about 2,500 Turkish Liras ($1,396.96) in the market, but I needed money urgently, so I was selling it for 600 Turkish Liras ($335.27)," Kaya said. The student said he received an email and a phone call from an interested buyer, but he soon discovered his email account information had been stolen and the perpetrator used the information to access his account in the game and steal his charac...

I could't make this up if I tried. . .Robot seal brought to Swedish elderly home http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/12/2 3/Robot-seal-brought-to-Swedish-elderly-h ome/UPI-88061356300495/ Residents at a a southern Swedish elderly home will soon be able to cuddle up with a robotic seal from Japan, officials say. The Japanese robots, which respond to touch and to show signs of appreciation, are used in therapeutic care for children and elderly people, The Local.se reported Saturday. "The seal has appealing eyes and soft fur which is pleasant to touch," Berit Lundstrom, chair of the nursing home, told the local Skanskan newspaper. "It could bring comfort to elderly people who feel anxious." Lundstrom said bringing in a robot has many advantages over a real cat or dog. A robot is easier to handle and to take care of and there are no risks for allergic reactions. And, "If you put it in someone's lap it stays there," said Lundstrom. * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Contest over: We have the headline of the year http://jimromenesko.com/2012/12/12/cont est-over-we-have-the-best-crime-story-of-t he-year/ Sandusky Register design desk chief Mike Schaffer gets the credit for this headline. “It was a no-brainer,” he says. “That song title popped into my head right away. …We were joking about it in the newsroom, saying things like, He’s lost that loving feeling. We’ve had a lot of fun with it.” Schaffer, 47, says of Hall and Oates: “I’ve seen them in concert before; I know all of their songs. Some of the younger people in the newsroom didn’t get it.” Emil Whitis, the 27-year-old reporter who wrote the story, was one of them. “I’d never heard of them,” he says. “The sheriff deputies were rolling with laughter and I didn’t get it. Then they played the song for me.” Whitis’ story ran on A2, but had a page one teaser ­ with the suspect’s mug shot ­ that read “Watch out, here he comes!” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Man posed illegal gun picture on Twitter http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/12/0 5/Man-posed-illegal-gun-picture-on-Twitt er/UPI-58991354739475/ A New Jersey man was arrested after police said they spotted a picture of him holding an illegal weapon, a sawed-off shotgun, on his Twitter account. Jersey City police said they arrested Khalid McClenton, 22, Nov. 28 after they saw the photo of him holding the gun online, The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, reported Wednesday. McClenton was charged with unlawful possession of several prohibited weapons, including the shotgun, a handgun and two knives. McClenton's bail was set at $40,000 cash or bond with a 10 percent option. His lawyer, public defender Alicia Lera, unsuccessfully argued for the bail to be lowered to $35,000 cash or bond with a 10 percent option. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * *...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Fake plane crash fools TV station http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/11/3 0/Fake-plane-crash-fools-TV-station/UPI-5 2281354310082/ A Chicago TV station spent about 15 minutes reporting on a plane crash that turned out to be simulated for the TV series "Chicago Fire." WGN-TV reported on the crash, which was a simulated scene around 8 a.m. Friday for NBC series "Chicago Fire," complete with a small plane with its left wing splintered off, police cars and ambulance and extras acting as spectators, WMAQ-TV, Chicago, reported Friday. Police said they did not receive any calls about the fake plane crash, but the Chicago Fire Department sent out an alert asking residents to disregard the scene. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS TO USE AND PASS ALONG! (DISCLAIMER:...