Urban Legends: The Laundry Room Killer

Statistics show that every 3 and a half minutes a car is stolen in Canada. That’s a lot! Car thefts are more common because most cars are controlled by computer systems. For some thieves this has made it easier because they have the technology to access the computer system. Thirty years ago, when thieves used to break into cars it would often be a coincidence because the owner left the door unlocked or the window rolled down and the thief would take advantage of this. They used a process of hot wiring which involves connecting two wires to start the car. This system didn’t always work and it took a long

In his article, Staples first sets the scene by using emotionally loaded language. In his article Staples remarks that, “I could cross in front of a car..thunk” (Staples 340). When he heard doors lock as he passed by on the street, it did not improve how he viewed actions taken against him, especially due to his education level. Staples showed it was enough of an occurrence that the sound remained ingrained in his mind. Incidents, much like the cars, first became prominently seen once Staples, at age 22, noticed woman steering clear of him on the street. It began with his “first victim” (Staples 339) who saw him walking on a deserted street at night and ran away. The women he encountered from then on also braced for stalking, something he had not noticed as evidently when he was a kid. By using the word victim, Staples uses aggressive language to show how his association to a criminal in others’ eyes makes him feel like one. After the interactions, Staples

Diaz informed us by providing some background of this childhood. He also explains to us that robbery happens all the time, “In our neighborhood, cars and apartments were always getting jacked, and the kid stupid enough to leave a bike unattended for more than a tenth of a second was the kid who was never going to see that bike again (Diaz 385).” Thankfully many families do not have to think about their personal items being stolen, but that does not mean that other families are always completely safe.

On June 26, 2015, Mr. Steve Gerecke, an Albuquerque, New Mexico resident, confronted six youths allegedly attempting to burglarize his home after gaining access through the garage with a remote control removed from his wife’s car. The group of youth appeared to have been the same roving mob reported earlier to the police. Witnesses and police reports complained of burglarized homes and cars with the removal credit cards, cellphone, keys, and other valuables. In addition to the burglaries, the group allegedly committed grand the auto. Upon the confrontation of Mr. Gerecke and the youth, an escalation of bravado ensued. At this time, one of the youth armed with pistol, shot Mr. Gerecke multiple times killing him in the driveway of his home. Well

Myths are stories telling a part of the world view of a society or give an explanation of a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. It is a popular viewpoint, embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or segment of society. Although myths are regarded as fictional representations, they often reveal underlying ideals. Myths often tell us more about our social and cultural values than they do about any particular circumstance. While myths seem to explain events, often times they instruct us on integrating an event an individual’s belief system and worldviews. The phrase crime myths does not stray too far from these definitions. These types of myths are usually created in nonscientific forums through the telling of sensational stories. These crime fictions often take on new meanings as they are told and retold, eventually evolving into truth for many people (Kappeler and Potter, 2005). The commonly held belief of the United States’ leniency within the criminal justice system is a crime myth, unfounded, and false.

Motor Vehicle thefts can be easily done by a professional who knows how to hi-jack cars. The most common mistake why some cars are easily stolen is that people leave their doors unlocked. For example most people go into convince stores and leave their car running which is an easy way for a car to be stolen. There are certain vehicles that cannot be considered as automobile theft as in farm equipment because it isn’t registered with the DMV. According to the FBI (UCR) they consider that a vehicle is only to run on land not rails .In 2010 there was an estimated amount that there were 737,142 thefts of automobiles which is an outstanding number of vehicles stolen. There is also an estimated rate of 238.8 thefts out, out of 100,000 inhabitant that deal with vehicle theft. About 4.5 billion dollars is lost nationwide, because of these auto thefts

SUMMARY OF FACTS: Two armed men rob a bank in Alhambra, CA. One of defendant steals money, holds a women teller hostage and shoots at a police officer severely wounding him. The second defendant is offered money by one of the robbers to steal a white automobile as the “getaway car” for the robbery. The police takes the defendants into custody. One of the defendant’s statement was used as evidence.

To explain the crime, the criminal involved in the crime tricked the woman into getting in her car by impersonating a parking attendant. He stole the woman’s purse and car keys and drove off with the woman’s vehicle. During the carjacking, the man tried to attack the woman with a screwdriver which resulted in the criminal being stabbed. (“Antonio Beaver”). The victim gave a very vague description of the criminal, mentioning that he was african american, was wearing a baseball cap, was 5’10, had crooked teeth, and had facial hair.

In the West Boise area, a female victim was walking in the area when she was attacked. The unknown male had grabbed her from behind to assault her but ran when he heard a car approaching. Officers made contact with her at the hospital. This investigation is ongoing and officers are asking anyone with information

On December 16, 2013, LVMPD Dispatch received calls from witnesses. One witness stated it appeared woman was being kidnapped, the second witness conveyed they had seen a male and a female arguing, matching the description of the first caller. Officers were dispatched to the area and made contact with the witnesses. The first witnesses stated the female was only wearing a bra and a male, later identified as Evans Tutt, the defendant was physically putting the female into the car. The second witness stated the female was “jumping” out of the vehicle and was bleeding from the face. One of the witnesses was able to provide the license plate number of the vehicle.

The world is filled with myths. Most of us have been told that Poinsettias are poisonous. We have also been told that dogs sweat through their tongue and that bats are blind. Each of these statements has some truth to it, but each is also categorically false. They are nothing more than myths and urban legends. Small amounts of truth that have been blown up until they become something that extends beyond reality. Believe it or not, even home care for the elderly is not immune from the myth machine.

In 1995, a man walked into a Minneapolis convenience store with his fingers in his pocket pointed like a gun. He was hoping the police would shoot him and kill him. This man was Aaron Burks, Sr. who

In the summer of 1994 an Illinois woman’s buzzer rang at her apartment complex in Waukegan. She went downstairs to check after nobody went upstairs to her apartment. As soon as she reached the door downstairs, two men forced her into a dark colored sedan, kidnapped her, and raped her. Distraught after her attack, the victim wandered until she ultimately found a Seven Eleven close by and the police were called. When the police arrived, the victim said she was attacked by two Hispanic men that looked to be in their mid-twenties and a bit taller than her height of five feet and seven inches. The car that she was forced into was described as dark colored, older, having four doors and tinted windows. The victim’s boyfriend saw Angel Gonzalez’s car in the apartment complex parking lot and it matched the characteristics that the woman used to describe the assailant’s car. Police later stopped Gonzalez’s car and the victim acknowledged that the car was the one she described. She was then asked if Gonzalez was one of her attackers, and she was certain that he was, despite her being in the backseat of the police car while he was in front of it. Not only was he not close enough for her to get a clear view, but he also had facial hair and a birthmark, both characteristics that she did not use to describe her attackers. This led to Gonzalez being in police custody for interrogation where they did not allow him to sleep. When he was interrogated, he

We have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called "urban legends" tend to circulate throughout society thriving on each individual's fears and curiosity. What most people don't realize is, within these tales lies the attitudes and values of a community. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect society's fears and anxieties. In dissecting these tales one can indefinitely find the social fallacy against females that has existed for decades, as well as the fears women have against men. However, more importantly, the values that society hold are

Urban legends are fictitious stories spread as if they were genuine. Spread by the media, Urban legends have different genres. I’m engaged in scary urban legends, and my first encounter with scary urban legends was online. Strolling through YouTube, I found a video named Top 10 Scariest Japanese Urban Legends. The video had eerie