Crime is often portrayed in films and TV shows as a high-stakes game where criminals are meticulously calculated, stealthy, and elusive. However, the real world of crime is sometimes far from that image. In fact, some criminals are so inept that their failed attempts to commit crimes are as entertaining as they are embarrassing. These hilarious and mind-boggling criminal fails have been caught on camera, reminding us that not all thieves are masterminds. Below is a list of some of the most ridiculous criminal fails ever, ranging from bungling burglars to downright bizarre incidents that leave you wondering how anyone could be so clueless.
1. The Melbourne Bakery Break-In
In one of the most laughable attempts at burglary, a young man in Melbourne broke into a bakery, but things quickly went south. His plan? To sneak into the store, steal some goods, and escape under the cover of darkness. What happened instead? He ended up locked in the bakery’s storeroom.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
CCTV footage from the bakery shows the young man frantically trying to escape by stacking anything and everything he could find in the room: containers, chairs, and bins. His mission was clear—build a makeshift mountain to escape to the roof. However, after struggling for over 30 minutes, failing miserably, and falling to the floor five times, he finally freed himself—only to be caught after the footage of his bleeding face spread across the internet. In the end, he turned himself in. Not quite the criminal mastermind he envisioned himself to be.
2. Christopher Badman: The Bagged Bandit
Sometimes, a criminal’s name is almost too perfect for their failure. Take Christopher Badman, for instance. His name sounds like it could belong to a Marvel supervillain, but the truth is far less impressive. In 2015, Badman tried to steal from hotel rooms in Porthcawl, Wales, but he had an issue—he needed to hide his face from security cameras.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
His solution? A plastic bag. Yes, a plastic bag. He could be seen wandering through hotel corridors, moving in and out of rooms with the bag awkwardly over his head. However, when one of the hotel guests interrupted him, he removed the bag and continued on his way, completely unaware that his face was now clearly visible. Badman might have had a bad plan, but at least his name lived up to the expectations!
3. The Robin Hood of Texas
Not all criminals are malicious, and some even have a sense of generosity—though they’re still committing crimes. In 2017, a trio of men in Houston, Texas, decided to rob a Shipley Do-Nuts shop. Armed with guns and wearing black masks, they demanded that customers hand over their phones. However, one of the robbers took a detour and did something unexpected—he started handing out donuts to customers.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
While it might have been a sweet gesture, it didn’t exactly make up for the robbery. In the end, the criminals made off with the cash, but not without creating one of the most bizarre robbery moments in history.
4. Marcus “The Mower” Hubbard
Some criminals have an odd sense of urgency. In 2022, Marcus Hubbard needed a lawnmower in the worst way. His plan? To steal one. But, instead of simply swiping the mower and running, Marcus decided to take the time to mow the front and backyards of the property before making off with the lawnmower. Imagine the sight—him mowing a stranger’s lawn as if it was his job, only to then load the mower up and escape, dragging it behind him.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
Ultimately, Marcus was caught, but not before we all had a good laugh imagining the bizarre scene.
5. James Allan: The Convenience Store Misadventure
Sometimes, criminals are so clumsy that they don’t even get past the front door. Take James Allan, for instance. In 2015, Allan attempted to rob a convenience store in broad daylight. But there was a major problem: he couldn’t figure out whether to push or pull the door. This could be a scene straight out of the comedy movie Snatch, but in this case, it was real life.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
After finally getting inside, Allan wielded a toy gun and even took off his mask right in front of the surveillance cameras. It wasn’t long before Allan was caught, and the whole ordeal was made even more ridiculous because, just 10 days earlier, he had robbed the same store! At least he wasn’t consistent in his criminal career.
6. The Honda Heist Gone Wrong
When trying to steal a car, it’s important to actually know what you’re doing. Unfortunately, 31-year-old Isaiah John Gellatly had no idea what he was doing when he tried to steal a 1998 Honda Accord in Happy Valley, Oregon. After being spotted by police, Gellatly attempted to flee by lying down in the car, seemingly thinking he could hide. When the officer shined a light into the vehicle, Gellatly sprang into action, shifting the car into gear and speeding off. The pursuit turned into a disaster when Gellatly decided to bail out of the moving car.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
He leapt from the car, but instead of escaping, he ended up getting pinned under the car’s wheel and broke his leg. Oh, and inside the stolen vehicle? A ping-pong paddle, a tennis racket, designer sunglasses, and a Schwinn scooter. Not exactly the haul of a seasoned thief.
7. The Caned Robber of Toronto
In 2015, Toronto became the setting for a robbery attempt like no other. A man, armed only with a four-pronged cane, tried to rob two separate variety stores. But his weapon of choice was about as intimidating as a wet noodle. The “caned robber” not only failed at his attempts to get any money, but after each failed robbery, he fled the scene on his trusty red four-wheeled scooter.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
The police, of course, had to laugh at the absurdity of it all, especially when the man was reported to have made “aggressive use of a cane” during his heists.
8. The Beauty Salon Robbery Fail
Robbery in a beauty salon seems like the setup for a slapstick comedy, but for one would-be thief, it was a serious mistake. Enter a man who attempted to rob a beauty salon. However, the women in the salon were not the type to be easily intimidated. The thief approached them, brandishing what may or may not have been a concealed weapon, only to be met with the collective resistance of women who were just trying to get their nails done.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
Not a single woman complied, and the thief, realizing his misstep, had to turn tail and run—no money, no goods, just an embarrassing exit. Lesson learned: never underestimate the women in a beauty salon.
9. The Pickpocket With A Conscience
Sometimes, a thief is caught red-handed doing what they do best: stealing. But when the thief is a woman, the betrayal stings a bit more. In Los Angeles, a woman posed as a customer in a nail salon while secretly picking the jewelry of another customer. She went for the biggest prize—stealing a woman’s wedding ring while pretending to get a mani-pedi. What’s worse?
Источник: shortpixel.ai
She left the salon with freshly done nails and a stolen wedding ring. Luckily, she was caught and the ring was returned to its rightful owner within two days, but not before she gave everyone in the salon a solid lesson in theft and betrayal.
10. The Johannesburg Three
In Johannesburg, South Africa, three men attempted to break into a property in 2017, but what followed was a comedy of errors. The homeowner was alerted to the break-in and took the opportunity to videotape the robbers as they struggled to pry open the gates with a crowbar. But what made this video hilarious was that the thieves didn’t even notice the homeowner standing there filming them.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
It wasn’t until the homeowner cleared his throat that the robbers realized they had been spotted. Their reaction? They looked at each other, shrugged, and made a hasty retreat. The homeowner caught the whole thing on tape, and the video quickly went viral, showing the world that sometimes criminals fail at the most basic task—being stealthy.
11. Using a Toddler As Cover
In a bizarre and utterly distasteful crime in Russia, a thief took his toddler into an electronics store, perhaps hoping the innocent child would be the perfect cover for his criminal act. He stole a laptop from the store and tucked it under his sweater. Then, to avoid detection, he picked up his child and used him as a human shield.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
This father of the year managed to get away, but not for long. The CCTV footage was enough to track him down, and the stolen laptop was eventually returned. It’s not just a crime; it’s a shocking abuse of trust.
12. The DoorbellLicker of California
One of the weirdest criminal incidents involved a man from Salinas, California, who spent three hours licking a family’s doorbell. Yes, you read that correctly. For three long hours, the man stood outside the house and licked the doorbell. The family, monitoring their home security system, was horrified by the footage, but thankfully their children slept through the ordeal. The video went viral, and the man was soon identified as Roberto Daniel Arroyo.
Источник: shortpixel.ai
His bizarre behavior didn’t end there—he was also caught urinating in the front yard. While he tried to claim that he just wanted to ring the bell and run, nobody bought his excuse. This man would forever be known as #doorbelllicker, an unfortunate title he’ll have to live with.
Criminals aren’t always the masterminds they think they are. From epic fails to laughable missteps, these hilarious attempts remind us that sometimes, crime really doesn’t pay. It certainly doesn’t when your plan goes spectacularly wrong in front of the cameras. But, for the public’s sake, we can’t help but laugh.
The Hilarious Reality of Criminal Fails
The world of crime is often far more ridiculous than we could ever imagine. These absurd criminal fails prove that not every would-be thief is a criminal mastermind. Whether it’s an amateur burglar trapped inside a bakery, a man using a plastic bag as a disguise, or a group of robbers offering donuts to their victims, these botched crimes highlight just how far some criminals are willing to go to make a quick buck—often without any success. Even when criminals think they’re being sneaky, they often end up in embarrassing situations, caught on camera for the whole world to see. From absurd mishaps like a thief using his toddler as a human shield to the bizarre antics of a doorbell-licking criminal, these failures offer a reminder that crime doesn’t pay—especially when it’s done poorly. While these criminals may have failed miserably in their attempts, they’ve certainly provided plenty of entertainment for the rest of us, turning their blunders into viral moments that will be remembered for years to come.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings