Thief Caught After Forgetting to Log Out of Facebook on Computer in Home He Burglarized
A Minnesota man who logged into his Facebook account on a computer inside a home he allegedly burglarized is now in police custody because he forgot to log out before leaving the crime scene.
"World's dumbest criminal," said homeowner James Wood after finding the damning evidence left behind by Nicholas Wig, 26, on his computer in a CBS report. "I don't know."
According to Wood, he returned to his South St. Paul home last Thursday to find it ransacked and his cash, credit cards and watch were all missing.
In place of his belongings, said Wood, were a wet pair of Nike tennis shoes, soaked jeans and a belt. He explained that it had rained earlier and the discovery shocked him until he saw a damning clue as to what may have happened in his house.
"I started to panic," said Wood. "But then I noticed he [burglar] had pulled up his Facebook profile."
Wood explained that he began posting to Wig's profile announcing that he had broken into his home and shared his phone number asking for help with information. He said Wig texted him back the same day.
"I replied you left a few things at my house last night, how can I get them back to you," said Wood.
They agreed to meet with Wig believing that he would be exchanging a stolen recycled cell phone for the clothes he had left behind in Wood's house.
Wood, however, spotted Wig before the encounter and called police who arrested him still wearing Wood's watch. He now faces a possible 10 years in jail and $20,000 in fines if he is convicted.
"I've never seen this before," said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. "It's a pretty unusual case, might even make the late night television shows in terms of not being too bright."
