Greensboro Herald: Four thieves arrested after stealing $225,000 from moving trucks in France

$225,000 worth of electronics was the target of a high-speed heist in France that ended with four arrests. AFP reported on Oct. 6 that the thieves executed a literal highway robbery by leaping onto trucks in transit. The suspects threw the stolen goods to a trailing vehicle before jumping back into their getaway cars. The operation took place on a highway where traffic was moving at speeds as high as 56 mph. French authorities have charged the four individuals with aggravated theft, criminal damage, and criminal association. They now face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Investigators used surveillance video and detective work to locate the group. The suspects were found hiding out in the city of Angers. The incident stands out for its physical demands and the risk involved in jumping between moving vehicles. The method mirrors scenes from action films, but the outcome was a standard arrest. The police noted that the group had planned the theft with specific roles for each member. One vehicle carried the stolen goods while another provided a fast escape route. The coordination allowed them to strike multiple targets before being spotted.

This event is one of several unusual crimes and incidents reported this week. In New Jersey, a 22-year-old man named Maki J. Davis robbed a Marshalls store in Paramus. He stuffed about $2,200 worth of clothes into three large rolling suitcases. When police approached, Davis ran toward a green Dodge Charger. The driver of the car left without him. Davis was arrested and charged with theft, resisting arrest, and trespassing. His getaway driver did not join him in custody. The store owner recovered the clothing after the driver abandoned the scene.

In Tempe, Arizona, a man shattered a business window around 2 a.m. on Oct. 4. He stole dozens of Mac Mini computer boxes that turned out to be empty. The actual computers were located right next to the boxes. Employee Curran Rose said the staff was laughing about the mistake. The company filed a police report and offered a $1,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. Security footage shows the suspect taking the empty packaging. No one was hurt in the break-in.

A family of barn owls has also made headlines in New York. The Associated Press reported on Oct. 15 that the owls took up residence in a water tower in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist, stated that there has not been a barn owl nest in Manhattan in recorded history. David Barrett, a local birder, called the event special news. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation notes that New York is at the edge of the barn owl's known habitat range. The population has been declining, making this new nest surprising to experts. Visitors have gathered near Central Park to see the birds. The owls remain in the water tower as of the report date.

In India, three masked men arrived at a State Bank of India branch in Gandhari by ambulance at about 1 a.m. on Oct. 11. Gulf News reported that the suspects forced open an ATM with cutting equipment. They wore women's pajamas during the robbery. Police are investigating whether the ambulance was part of the ploy or a genuine emergency transport. CCTV footage shows the suspects making off with cash. The case remains open as authorities work to identify the individuals.

A Royal Caribbean passenger, a 44-year-old Salvadoran woman, spent 20 hours in Greece's Ionian Sea. She jumped from the ship early on Oct. 9. A Greek coast guard patrol found her the next morning while it was still dark. She was floating in an orange life ring. The woman told rescuers she jumped because she wanted to disembark. A local prosecutor ordered a psychiatric evaluation after she was treated at a hospital. CBS News reported the rescue on Oct. 14. The incident ended without injury to the passenger.