Posts with tag crime

It's official: you can be addicted to anything.

Along with email, the Internet -- and, course, drugs and alcohol (the old standbys) -- you can apparently also be addicted to luxury. At least that's the story from a 26-year-old South Korean woman who's suspected of embezzling $1.4 million just so she could purchase designer shoes, bags and clothing.

The woman apparently works for an agricultural co-op by day -- a company from which she was slowly stealing what should have been company utility and tax payments. By night, she was a high-dollar fashion diva, who -- according to police reports -- owned hundreds of pairs of designer shoes.

Now you know how much money you'd have to make if you wanted to live your designer fashion fantasies.

Those of us who take our work with us wherever we go are forever indebted to the inventor of the man purse -- or "man bag," if you feel the need to butch it up. However, recent research suggests that your murse is likely to get you mugged.

According to researchers, this is because thieves know that guys carry expensive stuff in the man bags (laptops, cameras, etc) -- making them a more appealing target than women, who more often use their purses only as fashion accessories.

I'm a mess without my murse, so this is a serious dilemma. Hopefully this news will prompt designers to incorporate security features into new bags -- but if not, I suggest mouse traps. You'll know they're in there, so you probably won't catch yourself, and any mugger who breaks his finger trying to grab your laptop will think twice before he tries it again.

[via Fashionista]

Thinking about committing a crime, but hemming and hawing over what to wear when you do it? It's a tough decision, as -- just like when you're living within the boundaries of the law -- what you wear when ripping somebody off says a lot about you as a thief, and you want to send the right message.

My recommendation? Go with what the professionals use -- wear Nike.

British police are now using a Footwear Intelligence Technology system to create a database of footprints left at crime scenes, and they've subsequently learned that Nikes are by far the preferred choice by thieves, muggers, murderers, etc. The Air Max 95 was particularly popular, so if you're unsure about which Nike is right for your socially deviant activities, that's a safe bet.

As for the rest of your outfit, I'd recommend something in black -- especially if you'll be working at night. Happy thieving!

Everybody loves a redemption story. And if it involves a badly-behaved, self-important celebrity who is being forced to face up to the consequences of her behavior, we love it even more.

Naturally, it was only a matter of time before Paris Hilton decided she too needed to get in on the "I'm sorry" gravy train. According to an story on ABC's website, Paris contacted Barbara Walters on Sunday* to express regret for her behavior as well as her hope that the media would focus on something other than her 45-day stint in prison. She said: "I used to act dumb. ... That act is no longer cute." Hilton insists that her jail experience has made a meaningful impact on her life, and that when returns to her life outside the maximum security facility, she would "like to make a difference. ... God has given me this new chance."

A new chance to make a difference? Let me guess -- it's a new reality television show involving one of the following: prison inmates, poor people or children. Paris can try all she wants to change the details, but the game, I'm sure, will stay the same.

*Does anyone else find it odd that Paris went to Barbara instead of Oprah? Not that I'm trying to create a hierarchy of outlets for public apologies, but Barbara Walters seems kind of like the low-budget option.

Here at Styledash, we have thing for high crimes of style. Naturally, when a man is arrested for stealing 1,500 pairs of shoes, we pay attention.

In Waukesha, Wisconsin, an unnamed 27-year-old man was apprehended by police after a security video revealed he had illegally entered a high school back on May 20. In light of the tape, police have connected the man to a string of school robberies that have taken place over the past two years.

Stranger still, a police raid of the man's home and storage unit yielded more than 1,500 pairs of girls shoes, which he stole during his school robberies. When questioned about his motives for taking the shoes from middle schools, the suspect said he "liked to smell them."

Many women will say that shoes are their weakness. But I doubt there are that many women who would go so far as to say that their shopping soft spot could land them in jail.

For Omar Abd-el-Gowd, 26, his love of shoes, however, has managed to put him behind bars. A so-called fetish shoe thief, Abd-el-Gowd had been stealing women's shoes since the age of 12 for purposes -- er, well, let's just say that he didn't wear them to the grocery store.

When he moved to London, he began swiping shoes from the feet of women as they walked down the street. And for the past year, Abd-el-Gowd targeted well-heeled women in London. In these situations, he would usually only get away with a single shoe.

Theft is theft, and it should be punished as such, but it seems to me that Omar could use some good old fashioned T-H-E-R-A-P-Y!

[via London Times]

For the past six months, fashionfans have been waiting with baited breath to see what would happen to supermodel Naomi Campbell in the wake of her third assault charge, filed by former housekeeper Ana Scolavino. Our wait has included delayed court dates, a lawyer-heavy trial and plus extensive punishment negotiations, but at long last, the day we've all been looking forward to has finally arrived!

Naomi gets her comeuppance!

That's right, today Naomi Campbell started the first of her five days of community service. For the rest of the week, the fiery supermodel will spend her days mopping and sweeping the Pier 36 garage in Manhattan.

Sounds like fun doesn't it? Well, fun for us that is...

Over the weekend, Naomi Campbell took the first step towards paying off her debt to society. Spotted at an upper East side office, Campbell attended the first of two five-hour anger management courses. According to the crackerjacks at the New York Post, Campbell told her other anger management attendees: "I do honestly feel very sorry. I don't know if people will believe that. I mean I cannot believe I am sitting here."

Despite her "woah, how'd this happen" attitude, Naomi appeared poised and confident. Perhaps she is sincerely sorry for assaulting her former housekeeper Ana Scolavino.

After all, nothing says "I'm a changed woman!" quite like a cross-emblazoned skull cap.

[via Vogue.co.uk]

Hotel heiress Paris could be facing up to 90 days in prison for violating her probation.

On Tuesday, Paris was charged with misdemeanor driving on a suspended license when she was pulled over on Sunset Boulevard for driving without her headlights on. The police argue that the recent charge is in violation of her January sentence of 36 months of probation for wreckless driving.

Elliot Mintz, Hilton's spokesperson, claims that they were not aware of the fact that Paris' license was suspended as a condition of her previous sentence for wreckless driving.

At this point, Paris' fate remains in the hands of the judge. But one thing is certain, prison orange is definitely not going to look good against her Mystic-tanned skin. Looking like a man-sized Cheetos is most definitely a StyleFoul.

Did you know that rapper Foxy Brown has a history of beauty shop assault?

It's true. The first incident of her salon-related crime took place in October when Brown attacked two staff members in a Bloomingdales' nail salon.

As the saying goes, if one time is a fluke, then two times is a pattern. And following a recent incident in Florida, Foxy has gone from a woman with an anger problem to a repeat offender.

Brown was allegedly applying hair products to her coiffure when a store employee told her it was closing time and that she would have to leave. Not one to take directions from a lowly shop boy, Foxy reportedly threw glue at the employee and then spat on him.

When the police arrived, Foxy Brown allegedly resisted arrest and forced an officer to apply a "take-down maneuver". The rapper later spent the night in jail for charges of assault and battery and obstruction of justice. Eventually, Brown was released on a $1500 bail.

I hope that any salon employees out there will take note of this warning -- if you see Foxy Brown in your store, leave her alone.

On Christmas Eve, model Julissa Mercedes was arrested for trying to transport nearly three pounds of swallowed cocaine into Sicily. A body scan revealed that Mercedes had 98 bags of the illicit drug in her stomach, an amount that was worth nearly $2 million on the street. According to police reports, the model was paid $5,500 to act as a drug mule for the Mafia.

Mercedes initially denied the charges but she later confessed before the police performed the body scan. Should Mercedes be found guilty, she could face up to 20 years in prison.

[via Asian News International]

Watch out, Naomi Campbell, there's a new model/felon in town!

Fashion model Beverly Peele was just sentenced to three years of probation and 300 hours of community service for credit card theft. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nash also insisted that Peele pay $4,000 to the victim and $900 to American Express for payment restitution.

Prosecutors accused Peele of using credit cards from a lost wallet to purchase several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. In her defense, she returned the wallet to the rightful owner, but not before she copied down the numbers to purchase goods on the internet.

Peele's defense lawyer suggested that the model made an "innocent mistake."