Those Pesky Pirates are at it Again

Global pirate attacks on the increase

(CNN) — The first nine months of this year has seen more pirate attacks than all of last year. And more than half of those attacks were carried out by suspected Somali pirates, an international maritime watchdog group said Wednesday.

The increase in attacks has forced many countries to patrol pirate hotspots such as the Gulf of Aden.

“The increased activity in Somalia is the major reason for the spike,” said Cyrus Mody, manager of the International Maritime Bureau, which monitors shipping crimes.

From January 1 until September 30, pirates worldwide mounted 306 attacks, compared with 293 in all of 2008, the Bureau said.

Of the incidents this year, Somali pirates accounted for 54 percent: they launched 168 attacks.

Thief prays for forgiveness before robbing clerk

This was interesting reading:

Police say an armed robber spent nearly 10 minutes on his knees praying with a clerk at an Indianapolis check-cashing business before fleeing with $20 from the register.

Security video from the Advance America branch clearly showed the man’s face during the stickup Monday, and a 23-year-old surrendered Tuesday on a preliminary charge of robbery.

Police say the robbery took an unusual turn after the gunman came around the counter when the clerk starting crying and talking about God.

The man said he had a 2-year-old child to support and asked for prayers about overcoming his hardships.

Police say the man removed the bullet from his gun and gave it to the clerk before taking her cell phone and the money.

That’s the nicest robbery story I’ve ever read. I love that he was overcome by the clerk’s reaction and sat there long enough to be fully recorded by their security surveillance. I also love the fact that he later turned himself in. God will, of course, get the credit for that. I’m going to credit the thief’s last shreds of integrity and dignity instead.

Too bad the journalist couldn’t include what happened in the man’s life that led to his action and this reaction. Job loss? House loss? Too much credit card debt? Girl wanted more than he had in their divorce settlement? Owes child support? Didn’t want to pawn his stereo to afford diapers? Dad once worked with a guy who did that. Who knows what he blew his paycheque on. There wasn’t even a casino in town at the time.

I’m not terribly well off compared to some, but I can’t imagine what it must be like to be in dire straits enough to consider robbery as a solution. How much crap has to happen before that’s the best alternative?