Child Abduction Scare (Gabon) – Dead Dog in Suitcase Legend – Child Abduction Scare (India)

http://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200203-unfounded-rumours-abducted-children-cause-3-deaths-gabon

Radio France Internationale

3 Feb. 2020

Rumours of abducted children lead to killing of 3 people in Gabon

Three people have been attacked and killed in Gabon following unfounded rumours that school children were being abducted on their way to school. […]

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https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/epgvbn/dead-dog-suitcase-stolen-tube-bus-urban-legend-origins

VICE

3 Feb. 2020

This Is Why We Still Tell the 'Dead Dog in a Suitcase' Urban Legend

You know the one, about a thief stealing a suitcase with a dead dog inside it. But what does the spread of this story tell us about urban life?

by Issy Sampson

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It sometimes happens in India (and elsewhere) that bogus child abduction accusations are used to settle scores or, apparently in this case, avoid paying debts.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/1-dead-as-6-farmers-attacked-over-child-lifting-rumours-in-madhya-pradesh-2175573

NDTV [India]

5 February 2020

1 Dead As 6 Farmers Attacked Over Child Lifting Rumours In Madhya Pradesh

[…] The contractors returned Rs 1 lakh to the farmers and asked the farmers to come to Khirkiya village for getting the outstanding Rs 1.5 lakh. When the six farmers reached the Khirkiya village, they were attacked in a pre-planned manner by the contractors and aides," Dhar district police superintendent Aditya Pratap Singh said.  "The six farmers after being attacked with stones escaped in their vehicles from Khirkiya village, but when they reached Borlai village […] their cars got stuck in traffic jam. The accused who were chasing the fleeing farmers also reached the Borlai villages and spread the rumour that the six men were fleeing after lifting kids from Khirkiya village. Provoked by the rumour the mob of villagers attacked the six men in two cars with stones and rods," Mr Singh added. […]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/madhya-pradesh-one-killed-six-injured-over-child-lifting-rumour-in-dhar/articleshow/73967061.cms

Times of India

5 February 2020

One killed, six injured over child-lifting rumour in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar

https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/02/05/one-lynched-five-seriously-injured-on-abduction-rumours-in-mp-village.html

The Week [India]

5 February 2020

One lynched, five seriously injured on abduction rumours in MP village

Dog Thieves Use Stickers and Dots

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/06/04/366358_news_pf.html

Geelong Advertiser [Australia]

4 June 2013

Dog theft rumours fuel alarm

Erin Pearson

A GEELONG dog-napping ring being hyped on social media is a hoax, police say.

Sergeant Andy Harris, of Geelong police, said online posts claimed people were stealing dogs for illegal fighting rings.

The posts claimed people were putting coloured stickers outside homes to mark them as places that have a dog worth stealing. [...]

Newcomb resident Amanda Kettner joined the call to keep dogs safe after returning from work last week to find a man in her driveway trying to lure her dog and her in-laws' pooches. [...]

"Then later on I noticed two green stickers on my fence and dots on the power pole nearby. "[...]

Dog Droppings Stolen (UK)

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5051683.Hunt_for_Worthing__poo_thief_/

The Argus [UK]
10 March 2010

Hunt for Worthing "poo thief"

By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter

A bag-snatcher on a bicycle pinched a bag of poo from an elderly dog-walker in Worthing. [...]

http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/worthing/Tarring-bag-snatcher-grabbed-dog.6139910.jp

Worthing Herald [UK]
10 March 2010

Tarring bag snatcher grabbed dog mess

A THIEF got more than he bargained for when he snatched a carrier bag from a woman walking her dog in Tarring. [...]

Thieves Steal Dead Pet Rabbit

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2610362.html

Ananova [UK]
23 November 2007

Thieves steal dead pet

Muggers snatched an Austrian woman's handbag unaware that it contained nothing but a dead rabbit.

The two thieves struck as Hilda Morgenstein, 42, was about to catch a train at Baden to the countryside with her daughter to bury the pet.

She said: "They saved us the trip - I told my daughter they were angels and were taking bunny to a better place."

Police are still searching for the pair and the remains of the rabbit.

Dog Droppings Stolen

The Modesto Bee [CA]
15 November 1974, p. A7.

Mugger Gets A Surprise Package

LOS ANGELES -- A mugger attacked Mrs. Hollis Sharpe. It was, she said, a terrifying and painful experience -- he broke her left arm.

But, despite terror and pain, Mrs. Sharpe was able to recognize a kind of ironic, theatre-of-the-absurd justice in what happened.

As has been her habit for years, Mrs. Sharpe was walking her 7-year-old miniature poodle, Jonathan.

Mrs. Sharpe is a woman of sensibility and consideration. She always carries a plastic bag and a newspaper with her on her nightly walks.

When Jonathan does what dogs do, Mrs. Sharpe carefully scoops it up with the newspaper and drops it in the bag for sanitary disposal later.

"You have to think of your neighbors," she said.

Plastic Bag

Jonathan had done what dogs do Wednesday night, and Mrs. Sharpe had done what women of sensibility and consideration do, and she was carrying the plastic bag in her right hand when the mugger jumped out of a car and grabbed her.

She screamed, winced in pain and fell.

The mugger, a tall young man in a gray topcoat, snatched the plastic bag from Mrs. Sharpe and ran to his car -- only later to discover the nature of the loot.

"I only wish," said Mrs. Sharpe, "there had been a little bit more in the bag."

Dog Poo Stolen; UF Lore

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2464125.html?menu=news.quirkies

Ananova [UK]
15 August 2007

Robbers snatch dog poo

A Chinese woman has told how robbers snatched a parcel of dog poo wrapped in newspaper out of her hand outside a bank.

Mrs Chen, of Laohekou city, was waiting in the bank to withdraw money when nature suddenly called for her dog.

"While I was waiting in the queue, my dog had to poo. So I asked for several pieces of newspaper to wrap the poo," she said.

After wrapping it, Chen left the bank, and was waiting to cross the street to throw the parcel into a rubbish bin when the robber struck.

"A motorcycle stopped swiftly before me, the man on the rear seat seized the package from me, and they sped away," she said.

Police are investigating the case while "laughing at the stupidity of the robbers", according to Chutian City Papers.

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http://www.alligator.org/pt2/070815legends.php

The Independent Florida Alligator [University of Florida]
15 August 2007

Myths, legends and UF

The truth behind the rumors

By KIM WILMATH
Alligator Writer

College is a mysterious place. Among all the strange faces, unfamiliar buildings and abrupt new freedom, you'll hear some tall tales and false folklore. [...]

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/08/15/man_ple
ads_guilty_in_glass_eating_scheme/

Boston Globe
15 August 2007

Man pleads guilty in glass-eating scheme

By Erin Conroy, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON --A man admitted to his role Wednesday in an elaborate multi-state insurance fraud scheme, in which he and his wife collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments after intentionally eating glass in restaurants, hotels and grocery stores.

Ronald Evano, 49, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to 20 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, making false statements on health care matters and Social Security fraud. Prosecutors dropped four counts of identity fraud and health care fraud in the plea agreement. [...]