Top 10 Times Thieves Caught on Camera Faced Justice
#10: Firefighter Intervention
You should never underestimate the power and resolve of an innocent bystander. Dylan Bearden learned this lesson the hard way when his attempted robbery of a convenience store in Midlothian, Texas took an unexpected turn. The would-be assailant could never have known that one of the individuals he was holding up, Daniel Gaskey, had trained for situations like this. Displaying remarkable courage and quick thinking, the former Marine-turned-firefighter promptly tackled Bearden, disarmed him, and held him down for several minutes until the authorities arrived. Gaskey's swift and selfless actions not only prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating but also showcased the unwavering dedication of first responders.
#9: Lonnie Pierce
In the early 2010s, the city of San Francisco experienced a sharp rise in bike thefts. To combat this, they introduced a ‘bait bike’ program, using seemingly ordinary bicycles equipped with GPS technology that allows law enforcement to track them after they’re stolen. In 2015, San Francisco police strategically placed one of these bait bikes in the Mission District. Although it grabs the attention of a few people, none of them make a move on it until Lonnie Pierce comes along. The career criminal easily breaks the lock and pedals away with the two-wheeler, unknowingly activating the GPS device. It doesn’t take long for the cops to trace his location and swiftly place him in handcuffs.
#8: Wang of Jiangsu Province, China
If there’s one thing to learn from this entry, it’s that movies certainly are not reality. But this man from Jiangsu Province, China, identified only as Wang, learned that lesson a little too late. Apparently inspired by foreign films, Wang devised a plan to rob ATMs by pouring drinks into them. He had hoped to cause a malfunction that would trigger the machines to eject all of their cash, but the only thing he caused was about $22,000 worth of damages. Using the ATM camera footage, police identified Wang and tracked him down to a local internet bar. During his arrest, he reportedly feigned innocence and unsuccessfully tried to frame his twin brother for the crimes.
#7: Florida Phone Repair Shop Robber
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If you’re going to rob a store, the least you can do is invest in a foolproof disguise. This robbery suspect from Miami Gardens, Florida clearly wasn’t thinking outside the box when he broke into a phone repair shop with nothing more than a cardboard box thrown over his head. The man enters the store and sets about his plan, breaking the glass display and grabbing multiple devices. But without any means of seeing the merchandise to steal, he accidentally takes off the box long enough to reveal his face to the cameras. There was hardly any mystery to unravel in this case, as police identified and arrested the suspect soon after.
#6: Larry C. Bynum
The only thing worse than a burglar is a drunk burglar. In 2006, a heavily intoxicated Larry C. Bynum broke into a liquor store in Fort Worth, Texas. Initially, Bynum tries entering through the ceiling duct, but loses his balance and falls. He eventually makes his way via a rooftop ventilation hatch and crashes several feet to the floor. Bynum then helps himself to some drinks and cash from the register, only to realize that the door is locked. Frustrated, he tries unsuccessfully to break the Plexiglass, then attempts to go out the same way he came in, but crashes down again. In the end, Bynum resigns to his fate, lights a cigarette and waits for the cops to arrive.
#5: Group of Belgian Robbers
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In October 2018, an e-cigarette shop in Charleroi, Belgium was invaded by a group of armed robbers. The quick-thinking store owner, who only identified himself as Didier, devised a clever plan to outsmart the thieves. Didier managed to convince them to come back at closing time, when more money would be available. He then alerted the police who were a bit skeptical of his plan. Surprisingly, the robbers returned early but were, once again, deterred by Didier. This finally convinced police to hide in the back room and wait. As expected, the thieves returned a third time to carry out their mission, only to be arrested by undercover officers and whisked away to the police station.
#4: Hollywood Restaurant Robber
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An elderly patron at a Japanese restaurant in Hollywood was attacked by a man who then reportedly stole his phone and wallet. Surveillance cameras outside the establishment captured the August 2022 incident, which left the 64-year-old victim seriously injured. In the footage, Timothy Ratcliff, the owner of the restaurant, instinctively runs after the assailant and tackles him to the ground at a busy intersection. Despite his attempts to escape, Ratcliff manages to hold the thief down for about 10 minutes until police arrive and place him in handcuffs. Although the heroic restaurant owner managed to serve some karmic justice, the assailant reportedly never made it to court, as he seemingly got lost in the jail system. Whatever that means.
#3: Nyzaiah Williams & Accomplice
In May 2022, two thieves attempted to rob an Ulta Beauty store in Exton, Pennsylvania. Much to their surprise, the police were already waiting for them. Cops had received prior information about a red Nissan Altima linked to a series of thefts in other Ulta stores. They kept a close watch on the Exton branch and, before long, observed the red Altima pulling up in front of the building. Two male individuals - Nyzaiah Williams and an unidentified teenage accomplice - then entered the store and began looting several bottles of perfume. When the police confronted the suspects, they attempted to flee towards the exit, but were swiftly tackled down by the officers and taken into custody.
#2: Car Thief With No Driving Experience
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Imagine what the “Fast & Furious” movies would look like if the characters couldn’t drive a stick shift. Perhaps, something like this surveillance footage. In the video, a man is driving down the street when he is intercepted by a gang of car thieves. An assailant approaches him, forces him out of the vehicle at gunpoint and attempts to drive off. However, the criminal soon realizes that his thieving skills don’t cover a manual transmission, which this car just happens to have. As a result, he becomes stranded while his accomplices speed away in their vehicles. Not long after, police arrive on the scene and order him to exit the car with his hands above his head.
#1: John Bell
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When this armed robber stormed a cell phone store in Houston, Texas, he probably never expected what would happen afterwards. Surveillance cameras captured John Bell entering the store on the morning of April 17th 2017. Once an employee realizes the nature of the situation, she quickly leads the others out and locks Bell inside. After he’s done looting the place, Bell heads for the door and discovers that he’s trapped. What follows is the most accurate depiction of the five stages of grief ever put on screen. Bell slams and shoots at the door, then pleads with those outside to let him go, before ultimately accepting his fate. Police arrive shortly after and place him under arrest. Have you ever witnessed a criminal receive a swift serving of karmic justice? Share your experience in the comments below.
