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Over the centuries, history is filled with wonderful tales of mysterious people – many of whom are never identified. This list is a selection of the most significant or mysterious people of this variety. As usual, if you know of other fascinating people that would suit a similar follow up list, be sure to tell us in the comments.
10. Monsieur Chouchani
Monsieur Chouchani (died 1968) is the nickname of an otherwise anonymous and enigmatic Jewish teacher who taught a small number of distinguished students in post-World War II Europe and elsewhere, including Emmanuel Levinas(pictured above) and Elie Wiesel. Not much is known about him including his real name, a secret which he zealously guarded. His origins are completely unknown, and his gravestone reads, "The wise Rabbi Chouchani of blessed memory. His birth and his life are sealed in enigma." The text is by Elie Wiesel who paid for this gravestone.
There is no known body of work by Chouchani himself, but he left a very strong intellectual legacy via his students. Chouchani dressed like a vagabond but was a master of vast areas of human knowledge, including science, mathematics, philosophy and especially the Talmud. Most of the details of his life that are known come from the writings and interviews with his students. Chouchani appeared in Paris after the Second World War, where he taught between the years of 1947 and 1952. He disappeared for a while after that, evidently spent some time in the newly-formed state of Israel, returned to Paris briefly, and then left for South America where he lived until his death.
9. The Poe Toaster
The Poe Toaster is an unofficial nickname given to a mysterious person (or more probably two persons in succession, possibly father and son) who, for over seven decades, paid an annual tribute to American author Edgar Allan Poe by visiting the stone marking his original grave in Baltimore, Maryland in the early hours of January 19, Poe's birthday. The shadowy figure, dressed in black with a wide-brimmed hat and white scarf, would pour himself a glass of cognac and raise a toast to Poe's memory, then vanish into the night, leaving three roses in a distinctive arrangement and the unfinished bottle of cognac. Onlookers gathered annually in hopes of glimpsing the elusive Toaster, who did not seek publicity and was rarely seen or photographed.
Spectators, out of respect for the tradition (and, perhaps, the mystery), never interfered with the Toaster's entry, tribute ritual, or departure, nor was any concerted effort made to identify the individual.
8. Babushka Lady
In the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Babushka Lady is a nickname for an unknown woman who might have photographed the events that occurred in Dallas'Dealey Plaza at the time President John F. Kennedy was shot. Her nickname arose from the headscarf she wore similar to scarves worn by elderly Russian women. Babushka Lady was seen to be holding a camera by eyewitnesses and was also seen in film accounts of the assassination. After the shooting, she crossed Elm Street and joined the crowd that went up the grassy knoll in search of a gunman. She is last seen in photographs walking east on Elm Street and neither she nor the film she may have taken have been positively identified.
The Babushka Lady never came forward. The police and the FBI did not find her, and the film shot from her position never turned up, despite a request by the FBI to local photo processors that they would be interested in any pictures or films of the assassination. Jack Harrison, a Kodak technician in Dallas, claimed to have developed on November 22, 1963, the day of the assassination, an out-of-focus color slide for a brunette in her late 30s that showed a view similar to the Babushka Lady's position.
In 1970, a woman named Beverly Oliver came forward and claimed to be the Babushka Lady. Critics have noted a number of inconsistencies with her story, such as her alleged use of a model of camera that did not exist in 1963, and her claim to have positioned herself just behind Charles Brehm and his son, despite Brehm's statement that he and his son had hurried to that position at the last moment. Also, the fact that the Babushka lady appears to be a stout, middle-aged woman, whereas Oliver was 17 at the time of the assassination, tends to cast doubts on Oliver's claims.
7. Kaspar Hauser
On 26 May 1828, a teenage boy appeared in the streets of Nuremberg, Germany. He carried a letter with him addressed to the captain of the 4th squadron of the 6th cavalry regiment, Captain von Wessenig. The letter stated that the boy would now like to be a cavalryman "as his father was" and invited the captain either to take him in or to hang him. At first it was assumed that he was raised half-wild in forests, but during many conversations with Mayor Binder, Hauser told a different version of his past life, which he later also wrote down in more detail. According to this story, for as long as he could remember he spent his life totally alone in a darkened cell about two metres long, one metre wide and one and a half high with only a straw bed to sleep on and a horse carved out of wood for a toy. He claimed that he found bread and water next to his bed each morning. Periodically the water would taste bitter and drinking it would cause him to sleep more heavily than usual. On such occasions, when he awakened, his straw was changed and his hair and nails were cut. Hauser claimed that the first human being with whom he ever had contact was a mysterious man who visited him not long before his release, always taking great care not to reveal his face to him.
According to contemporary rumors – probably current as early as 1829 – Kaspar Hauser was the hereditary prince of Baden that was born on September 29, 1812 and had died within a month. It was claimed that this prince had been switched with a dying baby, and had indeed appeared 16 years later as “Kaspar Hauser” in Nuremberg. Hauser died after receiving a stab wound to the chest which was possible self-inflicted. He claimed he had been stabbed by the man who had kept him as an infant.
In 2002, the University of Münster analyzed hair and body cells from locks of hair and items of clothing that were alleged to belong to Kaspar Hauser. The DNA samples were compared to a DNA segment of Astrid von Medinger, a descendant in the female line of Stéphanie de Beauharnais, who would have been Kaspar Hauser’s mother if indeed he had been the hereditary prince of Baden. The sequences were not identical but the deviation observed is not large enough to exclude a relationship, as it could be caused by a mutation.
6. Fulcanelli
Fulcanelli (1839 – ?1953) is a pseudonym of a late 19th century French Alchemist and author whose identity is still unknown. Much mystery surrounds his life and works – leading to him being branded a cultural phenomenon. One of the more extravagant tales retells how his devoted pupil (Eugene Canseliet – pictured above) successfully transformed 100 grams of lead in to gold with the use of a small quantity of “Projection Powder” given to him by his teacher.
It is believed that on the verge of World War II, the Abwehr (German intelligence service) was in active (but fruitless) pursuit of Fulcanelli because of his knowledge of the technology of nuclear weapons. Fulcanelli had met with a French atomic physicist and given him accurate details regarding nuclear weapons technology and he claimed that atomic weaponry had been used against humanity in time long past.
“According to Canseliet (Fulcanelli’s student), his last encounter with Fulcanelli happened in 1953 (years after his disappearance), when he went to Spain and was taken to a castle high in the mountains for a rendezvous with his former master. Canseliet had known Fulcanelli as an old man in his 80s but now the Master had grown younger: he was a man in his 50s. The reunion was brief and Fulcanelli once again disappeared leaving no trace of his whereabouts. At this time, Fulcanelli would have been 114 years old.”
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TOP 10: Most Infamous Cat Burglars5. D. B. Cooper
D. B. Cooper is a media epithet popularly used to refer to an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in the airspace between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, on November 24, 1971. He extorted $200,000 in ransom and parachuted to an uncertain fate. Despite an extensive manhunt and an ongoing FBI investigation, the perpetrator has never been located or positively identified. The case remains the only unsolved air piracy in American aviation history.
Cooper has not been seen since and it is not known whether he survived the jump. In 1980, an eight year old boy found $5,800 of soggy $20 bills washed up on the banks of the Columbia river. The serial numbers matched those of the ransom money which had been noted to make it easier to track Cooper later. Cooper escaped from the plane by jumping off the rear airstair with a parachute leading aviation authorities to add stricter measures about the design of planes to prevent it from happening again. In addition, this event caused airports to install metal detectors for the first time.
4. Comte De Saint Germain
The Comte De Saint Germain (born 1712?; died 27 February 1784) was a European courtier, with an interest in science and the arts. He achieved prominence in European high society of the mid-1700s. In order to deflect inquiries as to his origins, he would invent fantasies, such as that he was 500 years old, leading Voltaire to ironically dub him 'the Wonderman'. His birth and background are obscure, but towards the end of his life he revealed that he was a son of Prince Francis II Rákóczi of Transylvania. This would account for his wealth and fine education. It also explains why kings would accept him as one of their own.
In 1745, Horace Walpole wrote of him:
…the other day they seized an odd man, who goes by the name of Count St. Germain. He has been here these two years, and will not tell who he is, or whence, but professes that he does not go by his right name. He sings, plays on the violin wonderfully, composes, is mad, and not very sensible. He is called an Italian, a Spaniard, a Pole; a somebody that married a great fortune in Mexico, and ran away with her jewels to Constantinople; a priest, a fiddler, a vast nobleman. The Prince of Wales has had unsatiated curiosity about him, but in vain. However, nothing has been made out against him; he is released; and, what convinces me that he is not a gentleman, stays here, and talks of his being taken up for a spy.
Since his death, various occult organizations have adopted him as a model figure or even as a powerful deity. In recent years several people have claimed to be the Count of St. Germain.
3. The Man in the Iron Mask
The Man in the Iron Mask is a name given to a prisoner arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669 and held in a number of jails, including the Bastille and the Fortress of Pignerol. He was held in the custody of the same jailer, Bénigne Dauvergne de Saint-Mars, for a period of 34 years. He died on 19 November 1703 under the name of Marchioly, during the reign of Louis XIV of France. The possible identity of this man has been thoroughly discussed and has been the subject of many books, because no one ever saw his face, which was hidden by a mask of black velvet cloth. Fictional retellings of the story refer to the mask as an “Iron” mask.
The first records that mention the prisoner are from 1669 when Louis XIV’s minister placed the prisoner in the care of the governor of the prison of Pignerol. Louvois instructed Saint-Mars to prepare a cell with multiple doors, one closing upon the other, which were to prevent anyone from the outside listening in. Saint-Mars himself was to see Dauger only once a day in order to provide food and whatever else he needed. Dauger was also to be told that if he spoke of anything other than his immediate needs he would be killed.
The prisoner died on 19 November 1703, and was buried the next day under the name of Marchioly. All his furniture and clothing were reportedly destroyed afterwards. The fate of the mysterious prisoner – and the extent of apparent precautions his jailers took – created much interest and many legends. Many theories are in existence and several books have been written about the case. To this day, no one knows who he was.
2. Gil Perez
Gil Perez was a Spanish soldier who suddenly appeared in Mexico City on October 26, 1593. He was wearing the uniform of the guards of the Del Gobernador Palace in the Philippines. He claimed to have no idea how he had managed to appear in Mexico. He stated that moments before finding himself there, he had been on sentry duty in Manila at the governor’s Palace. He told them that the governor (Don Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas) had just been assassinated.
Two months later, news arrived from the Philippines by ship. They carried news that confirmed that the governor had been killed and they verified other aspects of Perez’s story. Witnesses confirmed that Perez had indeed been on duty in Manila just before arriving in Mexico. In addition, one of the passengers on the ship recognized Perez and swore that he had seen him in the Philippines on October 23. Perez eventually returned to the Philippines and resumed his life – which was uneventful until his death.
1. The Green Children of Woolpit
The Green Children of Woolpit were two children who appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk, UK, in the 12th century. The children were brother and sister and they had green colored skin. Their appearance was normal in all other areas. They spoke an unrecognized language and refused to eat anything other than pitch from bean pods. Eventually their skin lost its green color. When they learned English they explained that they were from the ‘Land of St Martin’ which was a dark place because the sun never rose far above the horizon. They claimed that they were tending their father’s herd and followed a river of light when they heard the sounds of bells – finding themselves in Woolpit.
Some of the more unusual theories proposed for the origin of the children are that they were Hollow Earth children, parallel dimension children, or Extraterrestrial children.
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What exactly is a cat burglar? This must be the first question on your mind. So let me start this post about describing who exactly is a cat burglar.
"A particularly stealthy burglar, especially one who gains undetected entry through the use of agility." According To a Dictionary.
So here is the list on most infamous cat burglars in the history of world.
10. COLTON HARRIS-MOORE
Colton Harris-Moore (born March 22, 1991) is an American criminal and former fugitive from Camano Island, Washington. He became known as the "Barefoot Bandit" by reportedly committing some of his crimes barefoot, once leaving behind 39 chalk footprints and the word "c'ya!". Despite the widely-reported nickname, officials said that he more often wore shoes.
He started living in the wild at the age of seven, and would break into vacation homes in the area, stealing blankets, food and water before disappearing into the forest for days. He has been diagnosed with depression, attention deficit disorder and intermittent explosive disorder. Each conviction brought a 10-day stay in a detention center, or community service.
Harris-Moore is suspected of being responsible for approximately 100 thefts in Washington, Idaho, and Canada, including bicycles, automobiles, light aircraft, and speedboats. One plane he stole was a Cessna 182 belonging to KZOK-FM radio personality Bob Rivers, valued at US$150,000. The plane was later recovered from the Yakama Indian Reservation, though it was so badly damaged that it was a total loss. He would steal only what he needed for living in the woods as a survivalist. The FBI placed a $10,000 bounty for information leading to his arrest, and federal agents believed that he was responsible for the recent Indiana theft.
On July 11, 2010, Harris-Moore was captured just before dawn at Harbour Island, Bahamas. Local officers picked up his trail in Eleuthera after recovering a 44-foot (13-meter) power boat stolen from a marina on Great Abaco. A police official said the suspect attempted to flee, but police shot out the engine on his boat. Before being arrested, Harris-Moore threw his portable computer into the water and put a gun to his head, but the police talked him out of killing himself. He told the police that he intended to go to Cuba to throw authorities off his trail and proceed to the Turks and Caicos Islands. His mother had hoped that he would flee to a country that did not have an extradition treaty with the United States.
9. ANTHONY SPILOTRO
Spilotro was a clever and cunning gangster who operated in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 80s. He was originally ordered to oversee “The Skim” by the Chicago Outfit. “The Skim” was a scam used by many Mafia crime families to steal money from Casino counting rooms that they owned, in order to avoid taxes. However, Spilotro became impatient and wanted to make some extra money. He started a burglary gang with his brother and eight other mafia associates. The gang successfully carried out some high-profile heists, and made Spilotro very wealthy.
In a typical burglary the gang would find a hidden location to drill through the outer wall of a business to gain access. They would then locate the safe and crack it using expert safe-cracking techniques. They also stole other valuable items and fenced them for extra cash. The money made from the proceeds of the burglary would be laundered (made to appear legitimate) through Spilotro’s business; a hardware store named “The Gold Rush”. Eventually Spilotro had to end his burglary spree after a botched burglary resulted in many of his gang receiving long jail terms. Spilotro had planned a burglary at “Bertha’s Gift & Home Furnishings”, with the expected takings to be over $1million in cash and jewelry. However, shortly after the gang started drilling, the police surrounded them from all angles – an anonymous tip off had been received weeks earlier. Spilotro somehow managed to avoid a conviction, despite members of his gang informing on him. Eventually, he was brutally murdered by Mafia associates who were angered at his roguish and arrogant personality.
8. MADHUKAR MOHANDAS PRABHAKAR
Madhukar Prabhakar is a wealthy and successful thief living in Pune, India. He has stolen vast amounts of money over four decades and is now a millionaire. He owns four plush Bungalows and runs his own Hotel business with the help of his son. Despite being arrested multiple times, the police have failed to put a stop to his criminal career, and haven’t managed to put him behind bars due to lack of evidence. He seems to steal in order to offer financial help to the poor and needy in his local area; he even financed the construction of a Ganesh Temple in Pune.
To commit his crimes he takes a flight to Mumbai, landing during the evening. He finds a wealthy area of expensive houses and notes at least five as potential targets. Later he returns and breaks into the houses stealing objects made of gold or silver, which he proceeds to melt down at an unknown location. The money he makes from selling the metals is carefully laundered through his hotel business, which makes it almost impossible for the police to confiscate. His most recent arrest was in May 2011, after being caught red-handed at the scene of the crime. He hasn’t been forthcoming with a confession.
7. THE HILLSIDE GANG
The Hillside Burglary Gang is the name given by police to a group of master thieves who targeted celebrity mansions in the Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles, during the last few years. Victims include movie directors, musicians, actors and sports stars. They are thought to consist of at least four gang members, who are said to be experienced ex-convicts with prior criminal records. Police have attributed over 150 burglaries to the gang in a period of 3 years. The gang garnered such infamy that a special task force was assembled to take them down, financed by the immensely rich victims.
The gang established a modus operandi that police have used to link their crimes together. It is believed that one gang member typically scales a target’s balcony to reach the second floor, and then proceeds to disable the building’s alarm systems. When the coast is clear he signals his accomplices that it is safe to enter. The gang proceed to raid the house of all valuables, usually tearing the place apart in an effort to locate a safe. When the safe has been found, they steal it and load it into a vehicle to crack later with the help of power tools.
In 2010, the police got a break in the case after finding some discarded safes containing DNA evidence. They identified a suspect and tailed him over a period of several months in an attempt to get further proof of his misdeeds. Eventually they arrested and charged a man named Troy Thomas (pictured above), whom they found to be living in a multi-million dollar mansion. Thomas received 17 years imprisonment and the burglaries have since stopped.
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6. CHARLES PEACE
Charles Peace is commonly cited as one of the most prolific cat-burglars in history. He broke into thousands of houses during his lifetime, and maintained his criminal activity throughout his natural life. He was born in Sheffield, England, in 1832, though he earned his infamous reputation for burglaries committed while living in London. Peace was also a violent individual and he committed various murders during his lifetime, and often attempted to kill police officers who took him into custody.
Peace started off his life of crime in Sheffield, where he was convicted of stealing a gold watch from an elderly man’s home. Over the following two decades he was constantly in and out of jail for sophisticated burglaries in Manchester, Kingston upon Hull and Doncaster. He became a wanted fugitive after shooting a man in Sheffield following an argument. Eventually his travels brought him to London, where he committed his most skilled heists over the course of 2 years. During the day he was a well-dressed and respected violinist who performed at local concerts. By night he would burgle fancy houses while the owners were asleep. On one notable occasion, the owners woke up during a burglary and set their Bulldog on Peace, who responded by punching it in the face, killing the poor animal, before escaping. He bought multiple houses with his burglary proceeds and decorated them with expensive furniture.
Eventually Peace was captured during a mansion burglary. Police officers noticed Peace climbing through a window and ordered him to halt. Instead he opened fire on the officers, hitting one in the right arm with a bullet. However, he was wrestled to the ground and charged with burglary and attempted murder under the alias John Ward. His girlfriend then betrayed his identity to the police in order to collect a £100 reward on his head. Peace was executed in Armley Prison, in Leeds, at the age of 47.
5. BLANE DAVID NORDAHL
Blane David Nordahl (b. 1962) is a notorious American cat burglar, who was given the nickname "Burglar to the Stars" (aka The Silver Thief) after his exploits at the homes of individuals such as Ivana Trump, Curt Gowdy and Bruce Springsteen. A highly skilled burglar, Nordahl targeted the homes of wealthy individuals across the East Coast and showed an exclusive interest in stealing hallmarked antique silver. Despite his skill, he was arrested at least eight times and spent many years in prison. The exact sum of his thefts is uncertain, but he is believed to have netted $3million in around 150 burglaries throughout his criminal career. He is currently serving an 8-year sentence after being convicted of stealing $50,000 worth of silver cutlery from the home of Ivana Trump. He is a very clever individual, and has stated in interviews that his motive for a life of crime was to escape the boredom of a working life.
In a burglary typical of his modus operandi, he would approach a target house at night while the owners were asleep and carefully remove panes of glass from a French door, thus avoiding any alarms that may be triggered by picking the lock. This is potentially time-consuming work and sometimes could take hours to achieve silently. Once inside, Nordahl would utilize his vast knowledge of alarm systems that he researched at a local library. He would stealthily avoid motion sensors, before creeping up and deactivating them. He would even sometimes sneak past sleeping dogs. When all alarms were disabled, he would remove entire drawers full of silver items and take them outside to test them with his own silver test kit; plate silver would be thrown away at the scene and he would leave with only the finest and most expensive items. Nordahl would steal an average of around $20,000 worth of silver in a single burglary.
4. Ignacio Del Rio
Ignacio del Rio originally moved to the USA from Barcelona, with a dream of becoming a famous martial arts champion. When this didn’t work out, he fell in with a gang of thieves who taught him the art of distraction burglary. Del Rio wasn’t happy with the idea of preying on working-class elderly citizens, so he split from the gang and began to hone his own methods of burglary, aiming to target mansions and fancy houses. He also began to practice climbing techniques and taught himself how to pick locks and crack safes efficiently.
His modus operandi involves prior research of a particular house. He would learn about each and every resident of the target house and find times when they weren’t likely to be home. When a time for the burglary came, he would scale a second floor balcony, sometimes with the assistance of a home-made grappling hook. He would then proceed to pick the lock of the balcony door and carefully disable any alarm systems. Del Rio stole anything of value he could find including jewelry, watches, ornaments and paintings. After stealing what he wanted he would cover his tracks and clean up after himself, so the residents of the house took a long time to realize they had been robbed.
He was eventually arrested after a man stumbled upon his stash of stolen goods at a Public Storage facility, in 2005. Inside was over $16million worth of items, including 74 Rolex watches, 546 necklaces and $250,000 in cash. Del Rio had barely spent any of the cash he made from his robbery spree and soon began to cooperate with police; drawing maps to places where he had buried his loot. He is currently serving a reduced 7 year sentence.
3. Bill Mason
Bill Mason is an infamous Jewel Thief, notably the author of “Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief”, a book in which he describes his most memorable heists. He targeted celebrity apartments in Florida during the 1970s and 80s. Victims included Johnny Weissmuller, Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller. Eventually Mason collected a haul of jewelry worth $35,000,000. The bulk of his criminal riches were confiscated after his numerous short jail sentences, though he is suspected to have still earned a significant amount of money in unsolved burglaries attributed to him.
Mason’s heists were often extremely dangerous, as he reached high-rise apartments utilizing his climbing talent. During the night-time burglary at the apartment of Armand Hammer, he scaled a 15-story building during a storm. He would plan a burglary extremely carefully, researching any possible security system that could possibly thwart him, before finding ways to overcome them. In his book he attributes his success to the errors of his victims, such as accidentally leaving a safe unlocked (as was the case with Bob Hope). He also tricked realtors into telling him everything about the security measures of his targets, by posing as a potential buyer for a nearby apartment. Mason once stole an Olympic Gold Medal belonging to Johnny Weissmuller, though he mailed it back to Weissmuller months after the theft, because of the guilt of stealing something with such sentimental value.
2. Leonardo Notarbartolo
Leonardo Notarbartolo is a high-ranking member of a notorious Italian burglary ring known as the School of Turin. The School is widely known for conducting some of the most successful jewelry heists in history; most notably the vault burglary at the Antwerp Diamond Centre in 2003. As a teenager Notarbartolo had many brushes with the law, and ultimately resigned himself to a life a crime. He and his childhood friends graduated from petty criminals into skilled jewel thieves as they aged, and soon gained respect from Mafia crime families, who often fenced their burglary takings.
Notarbartolo would typically case jewellery stores under the cover of a shopping expedition. To appear inconspicuous he would always bring a woman along with him to browse the jewelry, while he took high-definition photos of the store interior with a camera disguised as a ball-point pen. After this, he would carefully plan a possible break-in with fellow gang members. If they deemed the target too difficult to attempt a burglary, they would simply move on to a different store. Once their plan was perfected, they would organize potential fences before the robbery in order to sell off the goods as quickly as possible, thus eliminating evidence.
In 2003, Notarbartolo led a gang of four individuals from the School, to burglarize the vault of the Antwerp Diamond Centre, stealing approximately $100million. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after police found a half-eaten sandwich near the crime scene that had traces of his DNA. The other gang members were not caught and remain unknown. After he was paroled in 2009, Notarbartolo was arrested again after police found a significant amount of uncut jewels stashed in his BMW. However, police failed to prove that these jewels were from the Antwerp Diamond heist, and were forced to return them to Notarbartolo. As of 2011, Notarbartolo is a free man still living in Italy.
1. Jack “Superthief” MacLean
Jack MacLean had never called himself “Superthief”; that was an appellation cops and robbers had used to define this legend they knew so little about. Before his eventual arrest and incarceration, MacLean stole over $133million worth of jewels in thousands of burglaries in Florida during the 1970s and 80s. His life of crime made him so wealthy that when police caught up with him he owned a multi-million dollar mansion, a Hughes 300C Helicopter and a $40,000 speed-boat.
MacLean is widely accepted as one of the most intelligent burglars ever to be arrested, with genius level IQ and an extremely vast knowledge of alarm systems and electronics in general. MacLean would always carry a police scanner with him on heists, in order to stay aware of 911 calls and keep track of any nearby police cruisers. His trademark would be to never inflict damage on a property that he burglarized; instead he would resort to non-violent methods of gaining entry, such as lock-picking. As a result, high-value items seemed to simply vanish from people’s homes, resulting in many of the victims suspecting family members for the theft, or just assuming they’d misplaced their items. He would always carry a change of clothes with him in order to appear inconspicuous if seen near the scene of the crime. MacLean usually disabled alarm systems and then reset them before he exited, though if the alarm was new to him he would carefully cut it from the wall to study later. He would often leave sarcastic notes at the crime scene. For example, he once robbed a mansion adjacent to a police chief’s house and left a note on the officer’s car that read: “Glad to see you’re doing your job”.
MacLean’s downfall came when he broke one of his own rules and recruited an accomplice to help him on a particularly profitable burglary. The accomplice was arrested after he tried selling off the burglary takings on the open market, thus attracting unwanted attention. He then informed on MacLean, who was arrested and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for multiple counts of burglary. While in prison he wrote books advising homeowners on how to protect themselves from a skilled thief, one of which (“Secrets of a Superthief”) is shown in the picture.
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According to Wikipedia:
A terrorist is one who participates in terrorism. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, often violent, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no legally binding, criminal law definition. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror); are perpetrated for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians). Some definitions now include acts of unlawful violence and war. The use of similar tactics by criminal organizations for protection rackets or to enforce a code of silence is usually not labeled terrorism, though these same actions may be labeled terrorism when done by a politically motivated group.
10. MOHAMMED ALI HAMMADI
Mohammed Ali Hammadi (born 13 June 1964 in Lebanon) is a wanted terrorist. A Lebanese citizen and alleged member of Hezbollah (aka Lebanese Hizballah), he was convicted in a West German court of law of air piracy, murder, and possession of explosives for his part in the 14 June 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
Under indictment by US law enforcement for crimes related to the same hijacking, during which one passenger, U.S. Navy Seabee diver Robert Stethem, was extensively tortured prior to being murdered, Hammadi was sentenced to life imprisonment by the West German court. He was imprisoned in 1987 in West Germany for 19 years, but was abruptly paroled in 2005, and became a fugitive from the United States Department of Justice, which listed him as one of the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists in 2006. He is believed to reside in Lebanon, where he may have rejoined Hezbollah.
There has been speculation that his parole was granted as part of a covert prisoner swap, in exchange for the release of Susanne Osthoff. Taken hostage in Iraq a month prior, Osthoff was released the week of Hammadi's parole.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Mohammed Ali Hammadi.
9.DANIEL ANDREAS SAN DIEGO
Daniel Andreas San Diego (born February 9, 1978) is the first American environmentalist and domestic terrorist added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list. He is a straight edge vegan and animal liberationist who has an alleged association with the Animal Liberation Brigade cell responsible for two bombings in 2003. He is believed to have ties to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty.
On August 28, 2003, two sophisticated homemade bombs exploded approximately one hour apart, the second intended to target responding police officers and firefighters, at the Chiron Corporation in Emeryville, California, causing minor property damage but no injuries. Another bomb, wrapped with nails to produce shrapnel, exploded on September 26, 2003 at the Shaklee Corporation in Pleasanton, California, again causing damage but no casualties.
A group called the Revolutionary Cells – Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility via an email message after each bombing. FBI agents admit that they cannot prove San Diego has ties to the emails, but believe he has ties to the group that sent them. The bombing targets were chosen because they were both clients of Huntingdon Life Sciences.
The agency had San Diego under 24 hour surveillance in 2003. However, he discovered that he was being watched. On October 6, 2003 he parked his car in downtown San Francisco, California, walked away, and never returned. San Diego was profiled on America's Most Wanted six times after his disappearance. In April, 2009, he was added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List, sparking a global search for the suspect in Germany, Britain, Costa Rica, France, Spain, Denmark, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines, and Chile. A reward of $250,000 has been offered by officials for information leading to his arrest, five times that of other animal rights activists. In November of 2011, it was reported that San Diego could be hiding out in western Massachusetts, possibly Northampton.
REWARD: The FBI is offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of Daniel Andreas San Diego.
8. HASAN IZZ-AL-DIN
Hasan Izz-Al-Din (born about 1963) is a Lebanese national wanted by the United States government. Hasan Izz-Al-Din is an alleged member of Hezbollah. He is currently wanted by the United States government for his alleged involvement in the June 14, 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847. This attack resulted in the death of United States Navy diver Robert Stethem. On October 10, 2001, Izz-Al-Din, along with two other alleged participants in the hijacking, was placed on the initial list of the FBI's top 22 Most Wanted Terrorists, which was released to the public by President George W. Bush. A reward of 5 million dollars is currently being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. It is believed he is residing in Lebanon.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Hasan Izz-Al-Din.
7. RAMADAN ABDULLAH MOHAMMAD SHALAH
Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shalah (born 1 February 1958-) is the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Shalah took control as secretary-general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) after the assassination of the former leader, Fathi Shiqaqi in Malta in 1995. Shalah was listed as a "Specially Designated Terrorist" under United States law on November 27, 1995.
Along with fellow PIJ member Abd Al Aziz Awda, Shalah was indicted in a 53 count indictment in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa, Florida, on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges of alleged involvement in racketeering activities for the designated international terrorist organization known as Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Shalah is wanted for conspiracy to conduct the affairs of the PIJ through a pattern of racketeering activities such as bombings, murders, extortion, and money laundering.
For that indictment, Shalah then became one of six alleged and indicted terrorist fugitives among the second and most recent group of indicted fugitives to be added to the United States FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list on February 24, 2006, along with Abd Al Aziz Awda.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah.
6. ISNILON TOTONI HAPILON
Isnilon Totoni Hapilon (born March 18, 1966 in Bulanza barangay, Lantawan municipality, Basilan province, Republic of the Philippines) is a leader of the Filipino terrorist organization called the Abu Sayyaf Group. He is thought to have recently suffered a stroke, which has limited his activity with the group.
Hapilon is also known as The Deputy, and by aliases including Abu Musab, Sol, Abu Tuan, Esnilon, and Salahuddin. He is a citizen of the Philippines, a thin man at 5'6" and only 120 pounds. He speaks Tausug, Tagalog and Yakan, as well as English. His whereabouts are unknown; he may travel to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
In 2002 Hapilon and four other ASG members -- Khadaffy Janjalani, Hamsiraji Marusi Sali, Aldam Tilao, and Jainal Antel Sali, Jr. -- were indicted in Guam and in the United States for their role in the 2000 Dos Palmas kidnappings of 17 Filipinos and three Americans, and the eventual beheading of one of the Americans, Guillermo Sobero. Hapilon is the only one of the five indicted who is still alive. On February 24, 2006, Hapilon, along with Janjalani and Jainal Sali, Jr. was added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list. TheRewards For Justice Program of the United States Department of State is offering up to US$5 million (approx. 230,000,000 Philippine pesos as of August 2010) for information on Hapilon's location.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Isnilon Totoni Hapilon.
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5. IBRAHIM SALIH MOHAMMED AL-YACOUB
Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub (born October 16, 1966 in Qatif, Saudi Arabia) is wanted by the United States government in connection with the June 25, 1996 attack on the Khobar Towers complex near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on June 21, 2001 on 46 separate criminal counts including murder for his role in the attack, which was led by Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mughassil.
Months after his 2001 indictment in the 1996 attack, Al-Yacoub, then still a U.S. fugitive, was placed on the initial list of the FBI's top 22 Most Wanted Terrorists, which was released to the public by President Bush on October 10, 2001.
Al Yacoub is alleged to be a member of the pro-Iran Saudi Hizballah, or Hizballah Al-Hijaz, meaning Party of God, being led by Al-Mughassil. The group is one of a number of related Hezbollah terrorist organizations operating in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait and Bahrain, among other places, and was outlawed in Saudi Arabia.
The 2001 indictment traces the carefully organized 1996 bomb plot back to on or about 1993 when Al-Yacoub was part of a team instructed by Al Mughassil to begin surveillance of Americans in Saudi Arabia, including at the location of Khobar Towers as early as 1994. Al-Yacoub remained one of the planners of the attack on Khobar Towers through at least early June 1996. The cell finalized plans on the evening of June 25, 1996, for the attack that night. In the subsequent blast, 19 American servicemen were killed, and 372 were wounded. Immediately following the terrorist attack, the leaders fled the Khobar area and Saudi Arabia using fake passports.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub.
4. FAOUZI MOHAMAD AYOUB
Faouzi Mohamad Ayoub was a Lebanese-Canadian who was a member of Hezbollah and arrested in 2002 by the Israeli Defence Forces. Two years later he was released to his wife and three children in Lebanon in a prisoner exchange that saw 436 Palestinians and Lebanese released in exchange for Elhanan Tannenbaum and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers abducted four years earlier.
His arrest brought debate to Canada over whether to declare Hezbollah a "terrorist" organisation, and whether to continue judging its military branch separately from its political and social service branches.
Ayub joined the Amal Movement in 1975 while studying, claiming that it was necessary to protect his family. In 1983, he formally joined Hezbollah, and three years later was part of a hijacking plot that targeted an Iraqi flight in Romania, hoping to exchange the airline hostages for Lebanese prisoners held by Iraq. However, the man designated to hand over small firearms to Ayub's group in the airport, named Sh'alan, was arrested, and confessed to the plot - leading Romanian authorities to immediately arrest Ayub when he entered the building. However, a second wave team targeted the same flight the following day and successfully hijacked it, although it crashed in the Arabian desert, killing 62 people aboard.
Ayub was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment, but was released after only ten months.
3. ADNAN G. EL SHUKRIJUMAH
Born in Saudi Arabia, Adnan Gulshair Muhammad el Shukrijumah (born 4 August 1975) is a member of al-Qaeda who grew up in the United States. In March 2003, a provisional arrest warrant was issued calling him a "material witness", and he was subsequently listed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the Seeking Information - War on Terrorism list, and since then United States Department of State, through the Rewards for Justice Program, has offered a bounty of up to US$5 million for information about his location.
Last known to have lived with his family in Miramar, Florida, Shukrijumah is known to have a Guyanese passport but might also use a Saudi,Canadian, or Trinidadian passport. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied that el Shukrijumah is a Saudi citizen. Now he is considered to be a high-ranking member of Al-Qaeda. His mother insists that her asthmatic son has been wrongly accused. He also goes by the names Abu Arif, and Jafar al-Tayyar, the latter translating to "Jafar the Pilot".
On May 26, 2004, United States Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller announced that reports indicated that el Shukrijumah was one of seven al-Qaeda members who were planning terrorist actions for the summer or fall of 2004. The other alleged terrorists listed on that date were Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani (who was later captured in Pakistan), Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, and Amer el-Maati, Aafia Siddiqui, Adam Yahiye Gadahn, and Abderraouf Jdey. The first two had been listed as FBI Most Wanted Terroristssince 2001, indicted for their roles in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings. Jdey had already been on the FBI's "Seeking Information" wanted list since inception on 17 January 2002, to which Shukrijumah had also been later added, and the other three as well. American Democrats labeled the warning "suspicious" and said it was held solely to divert attention from President Bush's plummeting poll numbers and to push the failings of the Invasion of Iraq off the front page. CSIS director Reid Morden voiced similar concerns, saying it seemed more like "election year" politics, than an actual threat - and the New York Times pointed out that one day before the announcement, they had been told by the Department of Homeland Security that there were no current risks.
Ashcroft alleged that Shukrijumah had specifically "scouted sites" in New York City and around the Panama Canal for possible terrorist attacks. On June 30, it was announced by the Honduran Security Ministry that el Shukrijumah had been in Honduras during the previous month meeting with members of the Mara Salvatrucha street gang. That September, the Aviation Security Association claimed that a Japanese flight attendant had confronted Shukrijumah while he had been acting strangely at Kansai International Airport. In June 2007, the New York Post claimed that Shukrijumah was "Al Qaeda's operations leader on a nuclear terror plot targeting the United States" stating that Osama bin Laden had chosen him "to detonate nuclear bombs simultaneously in several U.S. cities."
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the capture of Adnan G. El Shukrijumah.
2. HUSAYN MUHAMMAD AL-UMARI
Husayn Muhammad Al-Umari was indicted in the District of Columbia for his alleged role in the August 11, 1982, bombing of Pan Am Flight 830, while it was en route from Japan to Hawaii. He is alleged to have prepared the bomb that was placed under a seat on Flight 830, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old passenger and injuring 16 other passengers.
Al-Umari has thin lips, a cleft chin, and a wide mouth. He wears a mustache, glasses, and dresses very well. Al-Umari is a Sunni Muslim and doesn't drink or gamble, but smokes Cuban cigars. He has a high school education and is a mechanic and explosives expert. Al-Umari formed 15 May Organization in 1979, whose mission was to promote the Palestinian cause through violence towards supporters of Israel. Al-Umari has a Lebanese passport.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction, in any country, of Husayn Muhammad Al-Umari. The United States Department of Defense is offering a reward of up to $200,000 for information leading to the capture of Al-Umari.
1. JABER A. ELBANEH
Jaber A. Elbaneh is wanted in connection with a federal criminal complaint unsealed on May 21, 2003, in the Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York. He is charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and conspiring to provide material support, specifically to Al-Qaeda. Elbaneh is believed to have fled the United States and is still thought to be outside the country. Elbaneh has ties to Yemen and speaks in a Yemeni accent. He has worked as a salesman and a taxi driver.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of Jaber A. Elbaneh.
*Hmm, Guys My Advice Is To Leave Everything And Start Searching For Them Along With Me. ;)
Atleast you would get a minimum of 1-2 million $ :P
and start a new rich life ;P :D
So what are your reviews about this list?
*Joking
Hello Readers!
Are you struggling in life? Are you depressed about how things in the world are going on? Do you need some motivation? Or are you just bored and want to spend your free time?
Then this motivational post is especially for you. This post is all about motivational quote by various celebrities around the world. So sit back and relax. Enjoy reading this post. You definitely will cheer up after reading this post.
10. Robert Frost:
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."
Just remember this quote and everytime you would recall this you will definitely get strength to fight your problems.
9. Anonymous:
"When "I" is replaced by "we" even illness becomes wellness."
All I have to say about this is "Believe in Teamwork"
8. Unknown:
"I love people who can make me laugh when I don't even want to smile."
Ah! One of the easiest way to keep smiling is to have a good peer group. Laugh and smile as much as you can because...see the first quote on this page to know the reason. ;)
7. Anonymous
"A best friend is someone
who you can talk to,
who won't judge you,
loves you for you,
and
most of all makes you feel like
you are worth something."
Most of us forget that "Man is a social animal" and this is the reason why some of us remain sad. If you have little or no friends then you are likely to be depressed and sad.
If you have a best friend then you are unlikely to be in bad mood.
You just sometimes need to hangout with friends to enlighten your mood. So make as many friends as you can... :)
6. Abraham Lincoln:
"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward."
This is a great quote. It implies that one should never hurry as well as delay in important decisions as it may lead to one's downfall.
Lincoln may have been paraphrasing this: I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause.
5. John F. Kennedy:
“All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
Everyone has some sort of talent, it just needs to be explored and developed. Talent does not necessarily mean getting good grades in a test or getting a promotion easily. You should have some time in peace to discover your hidden talent. :)
4. Anonymous:
"FACT: Haters don’t really hate you. In fact, they hate themselves because you are a reflection of what they wish to be."
So just be happy because someone hates you or is jealous of you. :)
3. Unknown:
"If you have a problem with me, tell me. Not everybody else!
Thanks!"
Always remember not to defame anyone. You should sort your matters with the person you have problem with instead of spreading rumors.
2. Buddha:
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
Try to laugh as much as you can because laughing is a good therapy to battle depression.
1. Unknown:
"Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile."
Aw! At last a love quote. I don't need to comment on this, do I? ;)
You can post more great quotes in the comments section.
Share and like this post please. It just takes 5 sec of your time.
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