Ridiculous Crime

Hot Rocks: The Green Vault Heist

In Dresden, Germany, an incredible trove of precious gems is on display in Dresden Castle's Green Vault. They've been there for hundreds of years, save a brief moment whe

ZZ Top and the Zombies: A Great American Long Con

Before they grew long beards and a mustache and formed ZZ Top, two of the bandmates, drummer Frank Beard and bassist Dusty Hill, were once in a traveling band that was cr

Introducing: Natural Causes

Natural Causes is a podcast about the politics and practicalities of going outside in a world on fire, hosted by Dr. James Stout. It approaches the outdoors, conservation

It's an Honor to Rob a Bank: Lucio Urtubia

He fought for freedom, not just for his native Spain but for oppressed people worldwide. With his strong believe that, "the keystone of existence is doing right by one's

Before Cocaine Cartels, There Was The Black Tuna Gang

The name of their crime crew was certainly unfortunate. Like, who would wanna be known as The Black Tuna Gang? But their crimes, however, are legendary. Long before cocai

Philately Will Get You Nowhere: The Apollo 15 Postal Cover Scandal

Humans are fascinated by two things and two things only in this life: space and keepsakes. That’s it. The astronauts of the Apollo 15 mission knew this, so they took a LO

The Show Must NOT Go On!: Sometimes Crime is the Only Answer

For these three stories, there is one unifying idea: the show must NOT go on. And in order to ensure the show was indeed stopped, people turned to crimes, sweet, sweet ri

Ridiculous Crime Interviews: Matthew Campbell and The Man Who Stole the Gods, Part 2

For part two of this special edition, Zaron continues his interview with author Matthew Campbell about his book The Man Who Stole the Gods. In the second half of the inte

Ridiculous Crime Interviews: Matthew Campbell and The Man Who Stole the Gods

For part one of this special edition, Zaron interviews author Matthew Campbell about his book The Man Who Stole the Gods. The incredible tale documents a truly global art

I'll Stop the World and Melt with You: Joe Colombo Jr.

Joe Colombo Jr. was the son of a powerful, ruthless, flashy, publicity-loving mob boss. Joe Sr. was larger than life and as audacious as they come. One would expect his n

God Wants You...To Make Me Rich!: The Crimes of John Alexander Dowie

He was America's first super-wealthy faith healer. You could also say he was America's first religious robber baron. His name is John Alexander Dowie. After many arrests,

Full of (John) Bull: Horatio Bottomley

A prototype for generations of crooked politicians and media figures to come, Horatio Bottomley knew how to work the public. Whether defrauding them with fake sweepstakes

The Rebel With A Cause: Rodney Wilkinson

In the days of apartheid South Africa, no one expected a young white man who was a former South African soldier to turn rebel and to then help Nelson Mandela and the ANC

Terrible, But Charming: Arthur Barry

If you're going to break the law, you might as well do it in style. And be polite, too! Arthur Barry robbed from the rich while pretending to be one of their own. In a be

To Thine Own Self Do Crime

Sometimes in this world you're confronted with a choice. One that, years later, you'll look back at and recognize that choice was a key moment in your life. Because that

We Didn't Start the Fyre: Fabulous Festival Failures

We all need escapes from this crazy world, and one way to do that is to meet up with like-minded folks and enjoy your shared, niche interests. Whether it's a magical worl

Shonk This Way: The 1935 Croydon Aerodrome Robbery

Once upon a time, some British hard men decided to steal some gold. They went out to an airport, worked their way into a bullion room, and lifted the gold. It was a class

The Good Bootlegger: Roy Olmstead

Using the nooks and crannies of Puget Sound as cover, Roy Olmstead ran a massive bootlegging empire during Prohibition. He was nonviolent, creative, and a whole lotta fun

You Get an "A" For Effort: Beautiful Plans, Become Ridiculous Crimes

Often times the crimers on this show come up with audacious plans for their capers, heists and cons. But far too often they forget the other half of the equation: how to

Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect: LEGO theft

LEGO sets. Everybody loves them, crimers love to steal them. They're light, valuable, in demand, and untraceable. Perfect for illicit maneuvers! There are many ways to st