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Who is the 'Barefoot Bandit'? | Who is the 'Barefoot Bandit'? |
(about 4 hours later) | |
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News, Washington DC Colton Harris-Moore has a major following on Facebook | |
American teenager Colton Harris-Moore is being hunted by police in the Bahamas after allegedly stealing a plane and flying it from Indiana, the latest in a string of suspected thefts of aircraft, boats and cars. But why has this supposed serial thief and burglar become an internet celebrity? | American teenager Colton Harris-Moore is being hunted by police in the Bahamas after allegedly stealing a plane and flying it from Indiana, the latest in a string of suspected thefts of aircraft, boats and cars. But why has this supposed serial thief and burglar become an internet celebrity? |
It's not that unusual for a 19-year-old to have a Facebook page dedicated to his or her adulation, counting 45,000 fans. | It's not that unusual for a 19-year-old to have a Facebook page dedicated to his or her adulation, counting 45,000 fans. |
But those 19-year-olds are usually singers, musicians, actors or models. Not criminals. | But those 19-year-olds are usually singers, musicians, actors or models. Not criminals. |
Colton Harris-Moore is famous because he is an outlaw. | Colton Harris-Moore is famous because he is an outlaw. |
Growing up in Camano Island in the north-west of Washington state, Harris-Moore had a difficult childhood. | Growing up in Camano Island in the north-west of Washington state, Harris-Moore had a difficult childhood. |
Frequent run-ins with the law culminated in a three-year sentence of detention, but after early release he absconded from a halfway house in April 2008, and allegedly began a spree of burglaries. | Frequent run-ins with the law culminated in a three-year sentence of detention, but after early release he absconded from a halfway house in April 2008, and allegedly began a spree of burglaries. |
He is accused of repeatedly breaking into empty holiday homes, taking food, stealing electronic items and even using stolen credit cards to get deliveries of items essential for surviving in the woods. | He is accused of repeatedly breaking into empty holiday homes, taking food, stealing electronic items and even using stolen credit cards to get deliveries of items essential for surviving in the woods. |
Dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit", he is thought to have carried out many of his alleged offences without shoes. | Dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit", he is thought to have carried out many of his alleged offences without shoes. |
Colton Harris-Moore is accused of at least three journeys in stolen planes | Colton Harris-Moore is accused of at least three journeys in stolen planes |
In November 2008, he allegedly stole a Cessna 182 light aircraft from a hangar on Orcas Island, also in Washington state. Despite never having had a flying lesson he was supposedly able to take off, eventually crash-landing it 300 miles (483km) away. | In November 2008, he allegedly stole a Cessna 182 light aircraft from a hangar on Orcas Island, also in Washington state. Despite never having had a flying lesson he was supposedly able to take off, eventually crash-landing it 300 miles (483km) away. |
In September last year, he allegedly stole another plane in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, crash-landing it 260 miles away in Snohomish, Washington. | In September last year, he allegedly stole another plane in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, crash-landing it 260 miles away in Snohomish, Washington. |
A number of police forces are seeking the 19-year-old | A number of police forces are seeking the 19-year-old |
This week the FBI announced a $10,000 reward for his capture, just as it was alleged that he had stolen yet another light aircraft from an airport in Bloomington, Indiana, before crash-landing off Abaco Island in the Bahamas and beginning another burglary spree. | This week the FBI announced a $10,000 reward for his capture, just as it was alleged that he had stolen yet another light aircraft from an airport in Bloomington, Indiana, before crash-landing off Abaco Island in the Bahamas and beginning another burglary spree. |
"You have a kid, diagnosed with ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder], who never graduated high school, who really never took his formal education seriously, and he taught himself to navigate a plane 1,200 miles from Indiana to the Bahamas," explains Bob Friel, author of an upcoming book on Harris-Moore, Taking Flight. | "You have a kid, diagnosed with ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder], who never graduated high school, who really never took his formal education seriously, and he taught himself to navigate a plane 1,200 miles from Indiana to the Bahamas," explains Bob Friel, author of an upcoming book on Harris-Moore, Taking Flight. |
"It is easy for people who are of a certain anti-authority bent to root for him." | "It is easy for people who are of a certain anti-authority bent to root for him." |
Harris-Moore has allegedly left mock footprints at the scene of his crimes, notes, and on one occasion, a cash donation to be used to help animals. | Harris-Moore has allegedly left mock footprints at the scene of his crimes, notes, and on one occasion, a cash donation to be used to help animals. |
Survival mode | Survival mode |
This cheekiness perhaps explains why in Seattle you can buy T-shirts with Harris-Moore's face accompanied by slogans like "Momma Tried" or "Fly, Colton, Fly". | This cheekiness perhaps explains why in Seattle you can buy T-shirts with Harris-Moore's face accompanied by slogans like "Momma Tried" or "Fly, Colton, Fly". |
The most popular image of the burglar was taken on a camera stolen from Carol Star, a neighbour of his mother. | The most popular image of the burglar was taken on a camera stolen from Carol Star, a neighbour of his mother. |
"He broke into my house three times and stole my Mercedes Benz," she says. | "He broke into my house three times and stole my Mercedes Benz," she says. |
"He has been in trouble since he was eight years old. He is just a common thief. I don't think he is a dangerous person. He is in survival mode." | "He has been in trouble since he was eight years old. He is just a common thief. I don't think he is a dangerous person. He is in survival mode." |
Josh Flickner, manager of the family-owned Elger Bay general store, and also a victim of an alleged Harris-Moore break-in, takes a dim view. | Josh Flickner, manager of the family-owned Elger Bay general store, and also a victim of an alleged Harris-Moore break-in, takes a dim view. |
"It bothers me greatly that people glamorise him and call him things like Robin Hood. He is just a kid who wants what isn't his and steals to get it, and is just really lucky. | "It bothers me greatly that people glamorise him and call him things like Robin Hood. He is just a kid who wants what isn't his and steals to get it, and is just really lucky. |
"He is very intelligent but at the end of the day he was terrorising our community. Now he is terrorising a different community." | "He is very intelligent but at the end of the day he was terrorising our community. Now he is terrorising a different community." |
Camano Island was a "no-crime" community before Harris-Moore's alleged spree began, says Mr Flickner. But the wave of burglaries forced residents to reconsider leaving doors and cars unlocked. | Camano Island was a "no-crime" community before Harris-Moore's alleged spree began, says Mr Flickner. But the wave of burglaries forced residents to reconsider leaving doors and cars unlocked. |
FBI charge | FBI charge |
"He shopped here his whole life. I watched him grow up. | "He shopped here his whole life. I watched him grow up. |
"I remember looking into his eyes. They say the eyes are the windows of the soul. His soul looked very dark." | "I remember looking into his eyes. They say the eyes are the windows of the soul. His soul looked very dark." |
Harris-Moore is accused of stealing a plane similar to this one | Harris-Moore is accused of stealing a plane similar to this one |
The FBI wants Harris-Moore for transporting a stolen plane across state lines, but it notes that he has been the prime suspect in more than 70 other police investigations. | The FBI wants Harris-Moore for transporting a stolen plane across state lines, but it notes that he has been the prime suspect in more than 70 other police investigations. |
And yet there is still a large measure of ambivalence in the region where Harris-Moore allegedly started his crime spree. | And yet there is still a large measure of ambivalence in the region where Harris-Moore allegedly started his crime spree. |
"People's general attitude falls into two broad categories," says Jeremiah O'Hagan, from the Stanwood Camano News. "One is disgusted about a waste of everybody's energy, and the other category would be the people who view him as some kind of counter-culture folk hero." | "People's general attitude falls into two broad categories," says Jeremiah O'Hagan, from the Stanwood Camano News. "One is disgusted about a waste of everybody's energy, and the other category would be the people who view him as some kind of counter-culture folk hero." |
Investigator Mike Rocha, of All City Bail Bonds, has dedicated himself to finding Harris-Moore, a "felon" who has caused "havoc", but he recognises why some feel drawn to him. | Investigator Mike Rocha, of All City Bail Bonds, has dedicated himself to finding Harris-Moore, a "felon" who has caused "havoc", but he recognises why some feel drawn to him. |
"He is just a 19-year-old kid trying to survive, doing whatever he can. He has defied the rules of society, and so far has successfully evaded capture. People love an underdog story." | "He is just a 19-year-old kid trying to survive, doing whatever he can. He has defied the rules of society, and so far has successfully evaded capture. People love an underdog story." |
The teenager's escapes might seem miraculous to some, taking into account the number of police officers who have been looking for him. | The teenager's escapes might seem miraculous to some, taking into account the number of police officers who have been looking for him. |
Better life | Better life |
"They were going in one door and he was coming out of another," says Friel, a resident of Orcas Island. "You would think there's no way this kid can possibly get away, and he gets away. | "They were going in one door and he was coming out of another," says Friel, a resident of Orcas Island. "You would think there's no way this kid can possibly get away, and he gets away. |
"He was trapped against a cliff that overlooks extremely cold water and he still got away. You cannot help but be fascinated. | "He was trapped against a cliff that overlooks extremely cold water and he still got away. You cannot help but be fascinated. |
"There is no great social commentary, there is no great environmental message. He really wants a better life but when you look at his background, he is not put together to go about it the socially acceptable way." | "There is no great social commentary, there is no great environmental message. He really wants a better life but when you look at his background, he is not put together to go about it the socially acceptable way." |
Harris-Moore may be part of a "feedback loop", Prof Leo Barrile, a criminologist at Bloomsburg University, suggests. He may be driven to commit daring crime because of his online notoriety, thus magnifying it and providing the motivation for further crime. | Harris-Moore may be part of a "feedback loop", Prof Leo Barrile, a criminologist at Bloomsburg University, suggests. He may be driven to commit daring crime because of his online notoriety, thus magnifying it and providing the motivation for further crime. |
And there are parallels to the lionisation of bank robbers in the 1930s US, such as John Dillinger, Prof Barrile notes. | And there are parallels to the lionisation of bank robbers in the 1930s US, such as John Dillinger, Prof Barrile notes. |
"They became folk heroes. It is very interesting to think we are in an economic depression. There is a historical similarity." | "They became folk heroes. It is very interesting to think we are in an economic depression. There is a historical similarity." |
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