Top 10 sport-related thefts
IN the light of the news that some wag nicked Lance Armstrong’s bike this week, Anorak presents the Top 10 sport-related thefts (in no particular order):
10. Lance Armstrong’s bike, 2009
Armstrong himself reported via Twitter that his unique black-and-gold bike had been stolen from a team truck that was parked in an alley behind a Sacramento hotel. Armstrong posted a photo of the bike on his Twitter feed and wrote: “There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn it off.”
9. The Jules Rimet trophy, 1966
The famous World Cup trophy was stolen during a rare stamp exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, just four months before the 1966 World Cup finals in England. The thief, who was never caught, ignored rare stamps with a value of £3m to steal the trophy which was worth a fraction of that value. The trophy was recovered seven days later, wrapped in newspaper at the bottom of a garden hedge in south London. The finder was a mongrel dog called Pickles (pictured). Sadly, Pickles later choked to death on his own lead while chasing a cat. There is no justice in the world.
8. Rudi Johnson’s bag, 2008
When the Detroit Lions signed running back Rudi Johnson, someone had to make way. That man was Tatum Bell, who was told he’d be released as a result of the Johnson signing. As a parting shot, Bell nicked Johnson’s Gucci bags, which had been left outside the office of the Lions’ general manager (CCTV footage showed that the thief was Bell). When confronted on the matter, Bell claimed it was a simple misunderstanding – he thought the bags belonged to someone he knew. Yeah, tell it to the judge. In fact, Bell never had to tell it to the judge because Johnson didn’t press charges. Nice of him.
7. James Cracknell’s Olympic medals, 2006
When Cracknell’s west-London home was burgled, his Olympic gold medals were stolen, along with his wedding ring, iPod and laptop containing family photos. The medals have since been recovered, the laptop never was. Cracknell later called the thief a “work-shy coward”.
6. Andy van der Meyde’s dog, 2006
Everton’s Dutch midfielder had his rare-breed puppy stolen, days after being fined by his club for going on a night out. Burglars broke into his Wirral home, taking his seven-month-old pedigree Dogue de Bordeaux, Mac, not to mention his Ferrari and Mini Cooper. Happily, Mac was returned safely to his owner.
5. Josh Davis’ Olympic medals, 2009
Four of the US swimmer’s Olympic medals – three golds and one silver – were stolen from his car earlier this month after he returned from a swim class in St. Louis. Then, on Friday 13th, binmen found the medals outside a Salvation Army club in Texas. It’s not the first time one of Davis’s medals has gone missing. Davis lost a silver medal in 2007. He’s still not found it. Careless, dude.
4. Liverpool footballers’ homes, all the bloody time
What do Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Jermaine Pennant, Dirk Kuyt, Lucas Leiva, Robbie Keane, Pepe Reina, Jerzy Dudek and Peter Crouch have in common? They have all played – or still play – for Liverpool, and they have all been burgled in the last couple of years, often whilst they have been playing for the ‘Pool.
3. Nathan Dyer’s light fingers, 2008
In March 2008, Dyer and team-mate Bradley Wright-Phillips were accused of nicking money, mobile phones and other items from staff at Bar Bluu in Southsea. The pair were arrested and charged with burglary. Dyer pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 hours community service (charges against BWP were dropped). So not all footballers are victims of theft, eh.
2. Lewis Hamilton’s luggage, 2008
Hamilton had his luggage nicked while checking out of a Spanish hotel with girlfriend/Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. Two thieves grabbed a rucksack and leather holdall as the F1 world champion’s chauffeur loaded up his Mercedes. Bodyguards gave chase – Lewis should have hopped into the Merc – but the opportunistic robbers disappeared into the crowds, never to be heard of again.
1. Tiger Woods’ identity, 1998-99
A man who used Tiger Woods’ identity to steal £10,000 worth of goods was sentenced to 200 years (200!) in prison. Anthony Lemar Taylor, who looks nothing like Woods, was convicted of falsely obtaining a driver’s license using the name Eldrick T. Woods, Woods’ Social Security number and his birth date. Taylor then used the false ID and credit cards to buy a 70-inch widescreen TV, stereos and a used luxury car.
Posted: 17th, February 2009 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
