Dumb criminals {was: Re: [Rockhounds] Stolen University
ofMichigan Gemstones}
Axel Emmermann
axel.emmermann at pandora.be
Wed Mar 26 12:01:21 PDT 2008
Hi Kreigh,
Lovely link ;-)))
You may want to enter "minerals" an click search.
I had a similar experience in chem class... The difference in making 0.5
grams of methyliodite tear gas and making 500 grams on open day at school is
a big bang, 200+ weeping parents and an evacuated school building. The
teacher corps was simultaneously slightly foaming at the mouth and weeping
which resulted in a snotty and quite unappealing sight.
My lab-partner had the brilliant insight to make some of the stuff for
demonstrative purpose and put some aside for future pranks. I kept my
distance once I knew that he planned to multiply the amounts of the recipe
by 1.000. ;-)))
Cheers
Axel
PS: on the bus ride home, all the passengers had tears in their eyes... It
stuck in my cloths big time
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] Namens Kreigh
> Tomaszewski
> Verzonden: woensdag 26 maart 2008 3:55
> Aan: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem
> collectors
> Onderwerp: OT: Dumb criminals {was: Re: [Rockhounds] Stolen
> University ofMichigan Gemstones}
>
> Axel Emmermann wrote:
> > I wonder what a dumb criminal would do.
>
>
>
> Axel,
>
> Check out the annual Darwin Awards if you want to find out
> what dumb criminals do to remove themselves from the gene pool.
>
> http://www.darwinawards.com
>
> I don't think there was a criminal one this year, but many
> past years have featured them. Search on 'criminal' to find
> most of them; I found 17, and that is a lot of Darwin Awards.
>
> Be careful what you ask for, the list may answer.
>
> Kreigh
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Axel Emmermann wrote:
> >
> > At least this one didn't try to sell his stuff on the internet like
> > Thad Roberts did with the Apollo moon samples.
> > They are getting smarter but not by much...
> >
> > What frightens me most is that these guys are supposed to
> be "educated
> > people" studying at university level. I wonder what a dumb criminal
> > would do.
> >
> > Axel
> >
> > > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> > > Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> > > [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] Namens Frank Daniels
> > > Verzonden: dinsdag 25 maart 2008 5:25
> > > Aan: 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem
> > > collectors'
> > > Onderwerp: RE: [Rockhounds] Stolen University of Michigan
> Gemstones
> > >
> > >
> > > Case solved. The moron took some of the minerals a few
> blocks way to
> > > a jewelry store to be appraised.
> > >
> > > Suspect arrested in U-M gem thefts
> > > Posted by Art Aisner | The Ann Arbor News March 24, 2008 15:26PM
> > > Categories: Crime
> > > . Previous story: Burglars hit U-M gem displays
> > >
> > > By ART AISNER
> > > The Ann Arbor News
> > >
> > > University of Michigan police say they arrested a suspect in the
> > > theft of dozens of semi-precious gems from displays on
> campus during
> > > two burglaries last week, and they didn't have to go far do solve
> > > the case.
> > >
> > > Michael Edward-Lopez Sherer, 27, was arraigned over the
> weekend on
> > > one count of breaking and entering and another count of receiving
> > > and concealing stolen property taken during burglaries at
> the C.C.
> > > Little Building on March
> > > 15 and 17.
> > >
> > > The Eastern Michigan University student was arrested Friday while
> > > attempting to have several pieces appraised at Abracadabra, a
> > > jewelry store and gem gallery on East Liberty Street, just blocks
> > > from U-M's Central Campus, said Lt.
> > > Robert Neumann.
> > >
> > > An employee, who earlier that morning received photos of
> the missing
> > > collection from a graduate student in the geology
> department, kept
> > > Sherer occupied long enough until police arrived.
> > >
> > > Officers recovered the gems from the store intact and
> believe they
> > > found all of the remaining 68 items during searches of
> Sherer's car
> > > and on-campus apartment at EMU, Neumann said.
> > >
> > >
> > > "A lot of hard work went into this but with a little luck
> that every
> > > case needs, we got a very gratifying outcome,"
> > > Neumann said.
> > >
> > > Investigators also seized several knives, a violation of campus
> > > rules, and suspected drug residue in the residence that will be
> > > submitted for lab testing, said EMU Police Chief Greg O'Dell.
> > >
> > > Sherer, a Saline native, remains jailed on $100,000 bond
> to await an
> > > April 2 preliminary court hearing.
> > >
> > > The collection consists of crafted gems, uncut minerals
> and several
> > > small pieces, about an inch long or less, that is conservatively
> > > valued at at least $20,000 but is believed to be significantly
> > > higher, department officials said.
> > >
> > > Many were mined in the 1800s and were displayed by the department
> > > long before officials consolidated the collection for building
> > > renovations in 1995, said Robert Patterercq, department
> > > administrator.
> > >
> > > Patterer said the collection, pieced together over decades from
> > > around the globe, is a significant department symbol and
> has great
> > > sentimental value to faculty and staff.
> > >
> > > "The various items we have on display is what makes geology,
> > > geology," he said. "It's sort of what we're about, so there was a
> > > general sense of loss and violation."
> > >
> > > The department intends to share the collection with the public
> > > again, but officials will meet with police later this week to
> > > discuss security concerns and future displays.
> > > Steve and Katherine Lesse, owners of Abracadabra, said
> Sherer first
> > > came to the gallery with a gem a few days before the burglaries.
> > > About five days later he returned with dozens of items
> that he said
> > > belonged to his father and needed appraisals.
> > >
> > > Steve Lesse said he could not accurately appraise them on
> site but
> > > took them on consignment, intending to take them to a
> trade show in
> > > early April to determine their value.
> > >
> > > Sherer returned unexpectedly Friday morning saying he had a cash
> > > buyer and needed them back, Lesse said.
> > >
> > > It wasn't' until their employee matched the samples with the
> > > department that they realized they were stolen from U-M.
> > >
> > > "It sounded like a reasonable story, but he didn't think this out
> > > too well,"
> > > Lesse said. "At least they got them back, because if we got that
> > > information a half-hour later, that would've been it.
> > > They'd be gone."
> > >
> > > Authorities issued a $1,000 reward for information leading to an
> > > arrest and conviction in the burglaries.
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> > > [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Kreigh
> > > Tomaszewski
> > > Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 9:38 PM
> > > To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem
> > > collectors
> > > Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Stolen University of Michigan Gemstones
> > >
> > > I hope you have also posted this on MinDat.
> > >
> > >
> > > Peter Sparks wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> http://www.mlive.com/ap/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-51/120596635521
> > > 49
> > > > 80
> > > > .xml&storylist=topstories
> > > >
> > > > There was a recent break in at the University of Michigan's
> > > CC Little
> > > > (geology) department and a number of specimens and
> gemstones were
> > > > stolen. Christ Stefano works in that department and
> has released
> > > > a list of the items stolen. There is a $1,000 reward being
> > > offered, and
> > > > there's probably a more complete story somewhere on the
> web. I've
> > > > included a recent email that Chris sent and was forwarded
> > > through the
> > > > Michigan's Midwest Federation's state director, Alan Hukill.
> > > >
> > > > -- Peter Sparks
> > > > zebulon at isr.umich.edu
> > > >
> > > > "Thanks a lot for helping me spread the word. The
> > > specimens
> > > > were stolen
> > > > from the display cases on the third floor of
> the building.
> > > > The only photos
> > > > that existed were old slides that have been
> digitized to
> > > > produce individual
> > > > photos of the samples of variable, but generally
> > > somewhat poor
> > > > quality.
> > > > The most notable and identifiable piece stolen was a
> > > > smithsonite stalactite
> > > > approximately 9 inches long from Sardinia. Photos
> > > and other
> > > > information
> > > > about the theft will be posted soon on an FTP
> site at the
> > > > department.
> > > > Anyone with pertinent information should contact myself
> > > > (stefanoc at umich.edu),
> > > > Rod Ewing (rodewing at umich.edu), Sam Mukasa
> > > (mukasa at umich.edu)
> > > > or the detective working on the case Richard Zavala
> > > > (richardz at umich.edu)."
> > > >
> > > > Christopher J. Stefano
> > > > PhD Candidate
> > > > University of Michigan
> > > > Department of Geological Sciences
> > > > 1100 N. University Ave.
> > > > Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005
> > > > 3017 Clarence Cook little building
> > > > 734-647-5533
> > > > stefanoc at umich.edu
> > > >
> > > > Here's the list of items:
> > > >
> > > > Specimens Stolen From C.C. Little 3/15 & 3/16, 2008
> > > Complaint #08-1064
> > > >
> > > > Apatite cut stone & crystal .778c- Pulsifer, Maine
> > > > Apatite cut stone & crystal- Durango, Mexico
> > > > Cordierite (iolite) .87 % 5.18c
> > > > Chrysoberyl .96c
> > > > Azurite & Malachite-Arizona
> > > > Malachite- Arizona
> > > > Beryl Aquamarine 7.71c
> > > > Beryl Aquamarine 8.89c
> > > > Beryl Aquamarine- Madagascar
> > > > Golden Beryl
> > > > Aragonite inlaid jewel box
> > > > Corundum sapphire
> > > > Corundum blue sapphire 4.32 & 1.08c
> > > > Corundum pink sapphire 3.8c
> > > > Corundum white sapphire
> > > > Corundum sapphire
> > > > Microcline feldspar amazonite pendant
> > > > Feldspar Labradorite
> > > > Oligoclase aventurine sunstone
> > > > Oligoclase aventurine
> > > > Oligoclase moonstone
> > > > Fluorite
> > > > Fluorite 126.3c
> > > > Garnet Uvarovite .57c
> > > > Garnet, various cuts
> > > > Garnet necklace
> > > > Lepidolite
> > > > Lapis Lazuli
> > > > Hematite necklace
> > > > Agate paper knife
> > > > Wood altered to opal
> > > > Opal- one of these was from Virgin Valley, Nevada
> > > > Fire Opal 8.5c
> > > > Opal
> > > > Opal in Vesicle of volcanic rock
> > > > Opal
> > > > Spodumene (hiddenite) .404 & 695c- Hiddenite, NC
> > > > Spodumene (kunzite)
> > > > Serpentine (Williamsite)
> > > > Rhodonite- Franklin, NJ
> > > > Rhocochrosite- Franklin, NJ
> > > > Sphalerite- SPAIN
> > > > Smithsonite- Masua, Sardinia
> > > > Olivine 3.5c
> > > > Tourmaline 10.23c
> > > > Tourmaline 2.03 & 2.44c
> > > > Tourmaline
> > > > Topaz 7.6c
> > > > Topaz 39.7
> > > > Topaz 1.83 & 1.67c
> > > > Topaz pink 1.5 & 1.13c
> > > > Spinel aquamarine
> > > > Cats eye pearl
> > > > Imitation pearls
> > > > Opercula of Turbo petheolatus
> > > > Cameo (carved shell)
> > > > Cameo (carved shell)
> > > > Amber w/inclusions, fossil resin
> > > > Opalized wood
> > > > Opalized wood
> > > > Pink Agate
> > > > Agate cut to eye
> > > > Agate cut to eye
> > > > Various Quartz gemstones (smoky, clear, citrine,
> and two star
> > > > shaped
> > > > cuts)- These were on the original list, but they were
> > > definitely in
> > > > the case by my memory and as best as I can figure are gone now.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Rockhounds at drizzle Mailing List
> > > > Subscription Services:
> > > > http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> > > > List Home Page, with a link to the List Usage Policy:
> > > > http://www.eclecticlapidary.com/Rockhounds/index.html
> > >
> > > --
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Rockhounds at drizzle Mailing List
> > > Subscription Services:
> > > http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> > > List Home Page, with a link to the List Usage Policy:
> > > http://www.eclecticlapidary.com/Rockhounds/index.html
> > >
> > > --
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Rockhounds at drizzle Mailing List
> > > Subscription Services:
> > > http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> > > List Home Page, with a link to the List Usage Policy:
> > > http://www.eclecticlapidary.com/Rockhounds/index.html
> > >
> >
> > --
> > _______________________________________________
> > Rockhounds at drizzle Mailing List
> > Subscription Services:
> > http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> > List Home Page, with a link to the List Usage Policy:
> > http://www.eclecticlapidary.com/Rockhounds/index.html
>
> --
> _______________________________________________
> Rockhounds at drizzle Mailing List
> Subscription Services:
> http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> List Home Page, with a link to the List Usage Policy:
> http://www.eclecticlapidary.com/Rockhounds/index.html
>
More information about the Rockhounds
mailing list