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Thief returns stolen truck with note of apology – and gifts!

In the bustling world of Auckland cafés, where flat whites and smashed avocados reign supreme, one café owner recently found himself entangled in a plot that could rival a sitcom script. Varun Chada, the proud owner of Kati Street, had his beloved 4WD truck snatched right out from under his nose, leaving him in a state of disbelief that could only be rivalled by a magician's audience. Picture this: a sunny afternoon, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air, and Chada minding his own business when, suddenly, his trusty truck disappeared faster than a piece of cake at a weight loss support group meeting. The audacity! The cheek! Someone had the gall to pull off a vehicular heist right outside his beloved eatery. But it gets better. Four days later, as if the universe had decided to play a cosmic prank on poor Varun, the stolen truck made a triumphant return. Parked in the exact same spot, as if it had never embarked on a wild joyride. It was like the vehicular version of Houdini's vanishing act, only with less smoke and mirrors and more caffeinated confusion. To add a sprinkle of absurdity to the mix, the returned truck came with a heartfelt, handwritten letter of apology. Now, we applaud any criminal with the decency to apologise, but it seems this particular ne'er-do-well could use a grammar lesson or two. The apology note featured the word "sorry", albeit with a creative twist on spelling that would make any English teacher cringe. “I couldn’t believe it,” Chada <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/watch-cafe-owners-stolen-truck-returned-with-sorry-note/VTWKKMRGR5AOTNIQGJNKBP6H7E/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The NZ Herald</a>. "The first time I thought I was losing my mind because I’d just walked inside, and the second time I rocked up, and it was parked there." As it turns out, the thief, in an attempt to excuse their vehicular misdeed, claimed to be a bit 'drunk' and in desperate need of a ride home. Because, you know, grand theft auto is a completely acceptable solution to a night out with one too many beers. "It was exactly where I’d parked it," Chada explained, "and I walked up to the window and there was a note inside it saying ‘hey mate sorry but I borrowed your car, was a bit drunk’ and none of us could believe it." But here's the twist that turns this tale into a comedy goldmine – the thief not only returned the truck unscathed but also left some new toys in the back for Chada's young son! It's like they momentarily transformed from a rogue car bandit to the world's most peculiar Santa Claus. Despite the surreal nature of the ordeal, Chada seems to be taking it all in stride. “I’m not condoning what they did is fine, but I mean, they gave it back and they said sorry, so, I don’t know, I’m just stoked to get it back, put it that way.” The saga has become the talk of the town, with Chada's Facebook and community pages buzzing with activity. Social media, the modern-day town square, has played a pivotal role in the unfolding drama, with hundreds of likes, shares and comments turning the café owner into an unintentional social media influencer. As for the truck, it's currently parked at Chada's house, awaiting the forensic scrutiny of the police. The investigation continues, but in the meantime, Aucklanders are left scratching their heads, wondering if their next caffeine fix might come with a side of unexpected vehicular shenanigans. Images: Facebook

Legal

Famous movie plots that were stolen from other films

Some films stand the test of time, and you can watch them again and again. But unlike what we’ve been led to believe, the storylines of some famous flicks were ‘heavily influenced’ by other (read: lesser-known) films. Is it plagiarism or just inspiration? You decide. 1. Star Wars & The Hidden Fortress George Lucas appears to be so enamoured with Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress that he took what he could for his first Star Wars film and used the leftovers in the second. Using two tag-along types (R2D2 and C3PO) to tell the story is probably the most well documented similarity with The Hidden Fortress. In a 2001 interview, George Lucas openly discussed this specific component of his influences for Star Wars, saying “I remember the one thing that really struck me about The Hidden Fortress,” he said, “the one thing I was really intrigued by, was the fact that the story was told from the two lowest characters. I decided that would be a nice way to tell the Star Wars story. Take the two lowliest characters, as Kurosawa did, and tell the story from their point of view. Which, in the Star Wars case is the two droids, and that was the strongest influence. 2. Reservoir Dogs & City on Fire While Reservoir Dogs is not a direct copy of City on Fire, there are definitely similarities in the plot (a group of criminals plan and blow a big job) and a couple of whole scenes that are very similar. Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 hit’s famous scenes echo the Chinese film, for instance both have four men walking in black suits, a tense standoff where three characters point a gun at each other, and shooting cops through a windscreen that shatters. Tarantino admits it too, saying to the Baltimore Sun that City on Fire is "a really cool movie. It influenced me a lot. I got some stuff from it." 3. A Fistful of Dollars & Yojimbo Once again we see Akira Kurosawa’s name pop up, with another of his films being used as inspiration for the Clint Eastwood classic. This time the samurais are replaced with cowboys, and a hero with no name (Eastwood) arrives in a small town where two rival gangs fight for control. Unfortunately for director Sergio Leone, he was sued by Toho Productions due to the similarities, which delayed release of the film for three years. Eventually the two settled out of court and A Fistful of Dollars went on to become a major hit. 4. The Lion King & Kimba the White Lion Besides the obvious similarities between the main characters’ names (Simba and Kimba sound quite alike don’t they?), many more elements of the plot mirror each other. Both the Disney film and the Japanese Manga have a bird, baboon and hyenas as supporting characters in the movies. There is a scene in which both Simba and Kimba stand on the cliff tops overlooking their future kingdoms, and each has an evil lion wanting to claim their stake at the throne (both ’Scar’ and ‘Claw’ have a scar on one eye). Despite having many similar scenes, it seems that the Kimba creators didn’t want to take on the behemoth that is Disney. They are quoted in the LA Times as saying "Our company's general opinion is The Lion King is a totally different piece from [Kimba] and is an original work completed by [Disney's] long-lasting excellent production technique." Images: Jolly Film

Movies

Mother’s car stolen with baby still inside

A woman who suffered injuries while trying to stop an allegedly stolen car with a baby in the backseat said her “blood ran cold” when she realised what was happening. Phone Halson said she and her sister were out for a day at the zoo in Yeppoon, Queensland on April 19, 2023, when the incident occurred. Speaking to Today, Halson said, "As soon as we got out of the car we heard tyres screeching and a woman screaming, so me and my sister ran over. I had my son in my arms,” "At first we saw the baby's capsule laying on the ground and we were thinking, 'Oh my God, this baby has been hit’." She said she and her sister then saw a woman screaming, "They took my baby”. "We are trying to console this mother still in the loading bay where you get your groceries, and the car did, like, a turnaround," she continued. "It has come flying through the exit-way. Me and another woman were still standing there. We were trying to call out, 'Stop, stop, there is a baby, stop', and she wasn't stopping.” Halson said she turned to protect her son, who was still in her arms when she was struck by the car. She revealed she suffered fractured ribs and internal bleeding and went through a two-week recovery period. The allegedly stolen car then returned, and Halson said the mother was “absolutely hysterical”. "It was madness. There were people trying to jump in front of the cars. Some succeeded in getting the baby," she said. "But, yes, some people were just screaming in horror. Other people were crying. There were some chasing after the car. It was absolute madness.” She said it was one of the most terrifying experiences of her life, although added that when the mum was reunited with her baby, it was “beautiful”. "You could see the relief on her face as soon as the woman put that baby in her arms," Halson said. "She just pretty much melted holding that baby.” Fortunately, the baby was left unharmed as the car drove away. Authorities said that around 4 pm that same day, they discovered an allegedly stolen grey Nissan Patrol at Bungundarra, north of Rockhampton, and arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man. The 24-year-old Cobraball woman has been charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, abduction of a child, and driving without a licence. The 36-year-old Mount Morgan man has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle. They have both been denied bail and are due to appear in court on April 20. Image credit: Queensland Police

Legal

Mistletoe – famous for stolen holiday kisses – is a parasite that steals water and nutrients from other plants

A parasitic plant with potentially poisonous berries might not sound like something that would boost your Christmas decorations to the next level. But, botanically speaking, that’s what mistletoe is. There are some <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/not-just-kissing-mistletoe-and-birds-bees-and-other-beasts">1,300 species of this evergreen plant worldwide</a>. They’re all parasitic or semiparasitic, meaning they can <a href="https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801443718/diseases-of-trees-and-shrubs/#bookTabs=1">survive only on a host plant</a>. Rather than being rooted in the ground, they live on the branches of other trees and shrubs. Just <a href="http://dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/forestry/docs/assistance/pests/fidls/147.pdf">two types are native to North America</a>. Twelve species of the American mistletoe can be found distributed largely across the southern half of the U.S., mostly affecting deciduous trees in the East as well as some evergreens in the West. Sixteen species of the leafless dwarf mistletoe infect only trees in the pine family and are mostly found along the West Coast. The American mistletoe, the one used at Christmas in the U.S., is in the genus Phoradendron, which means “<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/not-just-kissing-mistletoe-and-birds-bees-and-other-beasts">thief of the tree</a>” in Greek. It has green leaves and is capable of photosynthesis and so produces much of its own food. But American mistletoe also sucks water and other nutrients out of its host plant by sending rootlike structures <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-226865-2/00145-0">called haustoria</a> into the vascular tissue just under the bark of branches and twigs. These invading structures can live for many years inside a tree even if the mistletoe plant itself is removed. Mistletoes are what botanists call dioecious, meaning these plants have <a href="https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2009/2-4/monoecious.html">separate male and female versions</a>. The females produce the fruits, called berries, which are generally white, but can be pink or reddish depending on the species. Birds widely distribute the seeds after eating the berries. Seeds of some species can also be <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_1996_hawksworth_f001.pdf">shot out of the fruit</a> like a cannonball at up to 60 mph (100 kph) to a distance as far as 50 feet (15 meters). A sticky substance on the seeds helps them attach to any tree they land on until they germinate and begin to grow. In general, mistletoe won’t kill a tree unless it is heavily infested. Even then the tree doesn’t usually die from the mistletoe; most often death is an indirect effect of attacks from diseases or insects that take advantage of the stressed tree. Mistletoe’s parasitic ways can cause significant economic damage to forests industrially harvested for lumber. For a homeowner, though, it’s usually not necessary to control mistletoe – which is good, since getting rid of it can be difficult and takes patience and persistence. You can prune it out, being sure to get all those spreading haustoria under the host’s bark, or try chemical controls like the plant growth regulator ethephon. Maybe you’ll want to trim a sprig to decorate with during Christmastime. One of the most common traditions associated with mistletoe, <a href="https://time.com/5471873/mistletoe-kiss-christmas/">dating back at least to the 1700s</a>, is that anyone lingering beneath it would welcome a holiday kiss. Here in my home state of Oklahoma, mistletoe is our state floral emblem, apparently because it was the <a href="https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=MI047">only greenery available to put on graves</a> during the particularly hard winter of 1889. In other parts of the world, mistletoe is considered to bestow life and fertility, <a href="https://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/history/mistletoe.htm">serve as a peace offering</a> and protect against poison. About poison: Mistletoe has a reputation as a poisonous plant. While the European species <a href="https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2012.8.12572">Viscum album is reportedly toxic</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3109/15563659609013810">American mistletoe is not deadly</a>. Better to keep it away from little kids and pets, though, and if you are concerned, stick with artificial mistletoe for decorative purposes. Mistletoe is an important part of the ecosystem in the places where it grows in North America. Lots of birds rely on mistletoe berries as a food source, as do elk, deer, squirrels, chipmunks and even porcupines, which will also eat the leaves when other fresh foliage is scarce. Tangled clumps of mistletoe, traditionally referred to as witches’ brooms, provide nesting sites for birds, including spotted owls and Cooper’s hawks, and other animals. Three kinds of butterflies in the U.S. are entirely dependent on mistletoes. And it’s also an important nectar and pollen plant for honey bees and other native bees. So this parasitic plant plays a valuable role in both ecosystems and human traditions. If it grows near you, enjoy it because you probably wouldn’t be able to completely get rid of it anyway. And at Christmastime, it just may come in handy. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/mistletoe-famous-for-stolen-holiday-kisses-is-a-parasite-that-steals-water-and-nutrients-from-other-plants-173555" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home & Garden

"I am devastated": Disabled boy's modified tricycle stolen

A tricycle that has been modified to service a child with severe disabilities has been stolen from his front yard, just days after he received it. Mayer Dow, a 12-year-old boy who lives with Coffin-Lowry Syndrome, had waited years for the custom-designed piece of equipment, only for it to be stolen from his place in Melbourne. "I am devastated," Mayer's mother Rosalie told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/boy-with-disability-has-specially-built-tricycle-stolen-melbourne/d34cd40d-00e5-453c-b65d-9a6a80319c9d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. "I really don't understand. I understand desperate people do desperate things." The tricycle was specifically designed for Mayer's special needs, as using it is the only exercise he gets aside from using his walking frame. Rosalie said it took years of special requests and paperwork to get him the trike, making it useless to the thieves as it has been heavily customised to meet Mayer's needs. After being diagnosed with Coffin-Lowry Syndrome, a rare disorder which affects his intellectual and physical development, Mayer was unable to take part in simple childhood activities like riding a bike, until he received his tailor-made tricycle. "He is extremely excited because he's seen other people riding a bike and he's never had the capacity," Rosalie said. The devastated mother said she simply wants the tricycle returned, as the theft has been reported to Victoria Police. Image credits: 9News

Caring

"Return our stolen diamonds!": Renewed pleas over the Great Star of Africa

In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, calls in South Africa are growing stronger for the British royal family to return the world’s largest known clear-cut diamond. Known as the “Great Star of Africa” or “Cullinan I”, the diamond is cut from a larger gem that was mined in South Africa in 1905. It was handed over to the British royal family by South Africa’s colonial authorities. At the moment, the diamond resides on a royal sceptre that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. Demands for the return of the Great Star of Africa and other items have intensified since the Queen's death, as many South Africans view Britain's acquisition of the jewels as illegitimate. "The Cullinan Diamond must be returned to South Africa with immediate effect," activist Thanduxolo Sabelo has told local media, adding that: "The minerals of our country and other countries continue to benefit Britain at the expense of our people." According to the Royal Collection Trust, which oversees the royal collection of the British royal family, the Great Star of Africa was presented to King Edward VII in 1907, two years after its discovery in a private mine. Supporting the British monarchy's claim to the precious stone, the Royal Asscher Diamond Company has said that the gem was purchased by South Africa's Transvaal government (run by British rule) and presented to King Edward VII as a birthday gift. A University of South Africa professor of African politics, Everisto Benyera, rejects this narrative, telling CNN that "colonial transactions are illegitimate and immoral”. "Our narrative is that the whole Transvaal and Union of South Africa governments and the concomitant mining syndicates were illegal," Benyera has said, arguing that: "Receiving a stolen diamond does not exonerate the receiver. The Great Star is a blood diamond ... The private (mining) company, the Transvaal government, and the British Empire were part of a larger network of coloniality." According to the Royal Asscher, the Cullinan diamond was cut into nine large stones and 96 smaller pieces. The largest of these was named the Great Star of Africa by King Edward VII, who also named the second largest cut stone the Smaller Star of Africa. The larger diamond was set in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross and the second cut stone was mounted in the Imperial Crown, which has been on display this week on the Queen's coffin. African countries continue to fight for the recovery of cultural artefacts that have been stolen by colonial troops, with more than 6000 people signing a petition for the return of the jewel so that it can be displayed in a South African museum. Image: Getty

Legal

96-year-old woman alleges almost $500,000 stolen by son

A 96-year-old has allegedly lost almost $500,000 to her son and daughter-in-law who were supposed to be her carers. Documents lodged in the District Court in Mackay allege that Kathleen Turner had her care and trust abused by her son Maxwell Finlay Turner and his wife Debbie Maree Turner, by getting her to sign blank cheques over several years. The alleged behaviour only came to light when another family member accompanied Kathleen to the bank in September 2020, and the manager confronted her with the balance of her account. Legal action was taken against Debbie Turner last year in which the judge ordered she repay more than $401,000 or show it was held in trust. In addition to this, a second suit has been filed against Mr Turner in recent weeks seeking about $85,000 in restitution. In the claim lodged to the court, Kathleen's lawyers allege her son and daughter-in-law moved into her home in December 2015 to care for her, after she suffered a fall and broke her hip which required surgery and rehabilitation. It has been alleged that as Kathleen aged, she relied on her daughter-in-law to help with everyday finances, finding no reason to not trust her when presented with blank cheques to sign. She was told the cheques were being used to contribute to the cost of food. "The plaintiff (Kathleen Turner) signed as she believed she had an obligation and trusted Debbie to fill in the remainder of the cheques in an honest manner," the documents allege. <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> "There were words to the effect of, 'sign this, it's your contribution towards food and household expenses'." </div> It is alleged that Mrs Turner was not informed who the blank cheques were ultimately being made out to nor the amounts. The documents claim Mrs Turner "trusted them to act honestly", and was "unaware" of the state of her finances until her trip to the bank in 2020. Ian Henschke from National Seniors Australia said that 85 percent of financial abuse against elders is committed by family members, with children accounting for more than 50 per cent. A national campaign has been launched to combat instances of elder abuse, with a support line available to provide confidential support. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

New York museums now required to acknowledge art stolen under Nazi rule

Museums and art galleries in New York are now legally required to acknowledge art stolen under the Nazi regime. The new state law requires New York museums to display signage alongside works of art from before 1945 that are known to have been stolen or forcibly sold during the Nazi rule. According to legislation and expert testimony, the Germans looted 600,000 works of art during World War II. As well as the new public recognition law, works that were created before 1945 that changed ownership in Nazi Europe are now required to be registered in the <a href="https://www.artloss.com/about-us/">Art Loss Register</a>, a private database of more than 700,000 works of lost, stolen and looted art. Over the last few decades, museums in New York have been at the centre of discussions of who has rightful ownership of artworks that changed hands during the Nazi era. Both the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have gone a step further, and returned artworks stolen by the Nazis to surviving members of the families who owned them before they were looted during World War II. Despite this, several New York museums have also successfully fought to keep allegedly looted art from the Nazi era in their halls. In 2021, a federal appeals court ruled that the Metropolitan Museum of Art can keep a $100 million Picasso painting that the family of the previous owner says was sold to fund the owner's escape from Nazi Germany. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

United States returns stolen artefacts to Cambodia

The United States have given back 30 artefacts that were allegedly stolen by a late antiquities dealer, who had been accused of leading a trafficking network that resold objects that were looted from the country. Among the objects that were officially returned to the country was a 10th-century sculpture of the Hindu god Skanda atop a peacock. Deeming the work a “masterpiece,” authorities in New York alleged that the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford had stolen the sculpture in 1997 and subsequently sold it for $1.5 million. The Skanda sculpture had come from the ancient Khmer capital of Koh Ker, which is also where a 10th-century sculpture of Ganesha that allegedly passed through Latchford’s hands was once located. The Ganesha sculpture was also given back to Cambodia, along with several other artefacts. While the US District Attorney’s office did not place a monetary value on the artefacts, the works returned were of great spiritual and artistic significance. Ricky J. Patel, a special agent with Homeland Security, said in a statement, “These antiquities we returned were ripped from their country. Beyond their extraordinary beauty and craftsmanship, many are sacred artefacts pried from temples and palaces to be smuggled across borders and peddled by those seeking profit, without any regard to the intangible value they have to the people of their homeland.” The artefacts are due to go on display in a museum in Cambodia later this year. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

101-year-old reunited with painting looted by Nazis

A Nazi-looted painting has been returned to its owner after being lost for 75 years. 101-year-old Dutch woman Charlotte Bischoff van Heemskerck was reunited with the 1638 portrait of the Dutch merchant Steven Wolters, which was stolen by the Nazis during the occupation of The Netherlands in World War II. The painting had once hung in Charlotte’s childhood bedroom and was a much-loved possession of her father, who went into hiding after refusing to accept Nazi orders. Charlotte’s father had stored the painting in the Amsterdam Bank to protect it, where it was later stolen, along with countless other works, by Nazi invaders. The portrait was then lost for decades before being acquired by a private collector in Germany in 1971, where negotiations with the collector led to the painting being returned to Bischoff van Heemskerck in 2021. Recalling the moment that she saw it again, she told the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/12/i-am-amazed-101-year-old-dutch-woman-reunited-with-painting-looted-by-nazis?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR1Xn3-h5Nt_HwsEJ3yE8S-HXjc1A0iw5paSLZEQ2JUEp3h1P7pMSWi3JC4">Guardian</a>, “I was amazed.” Charlotte’s father died in 1969, but she said he would have been “so happy that it came back”. After treasuring the painting in her possession for six months, the family have decided to sell the portrait at Sotheby’s auction house in London, where it is expected to sell for between $50,000 and $90,000. She said: “I had five brothers and sisters. There are 20 offspring and they are very sweet, so I never had the feeling that it was mine. It’s from the family.” Image credits: Getty Images

Art

Mother of "stolen" four-month-old baby speaks out

The mother of a four-month-old baby who was the accidental victim of a kidnapping has spoken out, revealing her own devastating childhood and her "wrong" split decision. Young mum Erika Carter had the fright of her life earlier this week when her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/man-arrested-after-stealing-car-with-baby-inside" target="_blank" rel="noopener">car was stolen</a> from the north Adelaide suburb of Klemzig, with her son Jordan in the backseat. After a desperate two hour search from local police, Jordan was found safe in the car, which had since been abandoned, and was taken to hospital as a precaution. Speaking for the first time since the incident to 7News, Erika said she made the "wrong decision" by leaving her baby in the car alone while she went to pick up some essentials at the shops. “I went for a quick trip to get a loaf of bed and made the wrong decision to leave bubs for that split second,” she said. “And as I was paying for my bread, I heard my car rev and my heart just sunk." “I sprinted out after my baby boy and tried my best to get in front, but I couldn’t get to him, I was just yelling, ‘my baby, my baby Jordan’ and I thought the worst.” Carter said it was “the longest few hours of her life” as the police searched for Jordan. <div> “It’s sad we live in a world where we can’t trust what’s around us, and we can’t feel safe,” she said. “You just think, ‘give me my baby boy back, take whatever you want’, if that’s what it takes.” In a shocking coincidence, Erika revealed that she was also abducted when she was just 11 years old. “I got followed as I was walking my mum’s dog, and I was grabbed and put into a car,” she said. “But I wasn’t taken like Jordan was,” she explained. “My dog bit the abductor, and I managed to unlock the passenger’s door and get out." “But that took me years to get over.” Erika said her abductor was never caught. The 37-year-old man who stole Erika's car and son was arrested and charged with the abduction of a child, before he was refused bail. Image credits: 7News </div>

Caring

One young woman's plight to recover her stolen Airpods

A young woman who tirelessly tracked down her missing Airpods has captured the moment she confronted a Woolies worker who allegedly stole them from her. Juliette Fox shared a video on Sunday that showed her speaking to a Woolworths shift supervisor about the pair of missing earphones. The dramatic video showed Ms Fox telling the employee that she had been tracking her missing earphones via the 'Find My’ iPhone feature and knew they were in the store. Ms Fox said she had been at an arcade earlier that week while visiting friends and family in Melbourne and left her earphones, keys, and phone in her coat pocket next to her. Later the woman discovered the Airpods were missing. She said she then started receiving notifications that her AirPods were being used in a strangers apartment. The notifications and tracking were so specific that Ms Fox knew the apartment building the alleged thief lived in, the train stations the employee had walked in and out of, and where she had gone for dinner. "I've been clicking on this every single day, it became the bane of my existence," she said. "I have the receipts, I knew when you used them. So don't lie to me, don't pretend you didn't have them." Ms Fox said she had tried to recover her earphones from the couple's apartment but was unable to gain access so left her name and phone number with the doorman. However, being dedicated to the mission ,Ms Fox decided to take matters into her own hands and confronted the Woolworths employee at the store. "I know the AirPods are still here," she told the employee. "So you're either going to give them to me or I'm going to go back to the cop station." "You can look but I don't have it," the employee told her. Ms Fox then showed the employee her tracking notifications that alerted her the AirPods had recently been used in the store and the employee called her partner. "That lady whose the AirPods are, she's here," the employee said. "You know how you can track it? She tracked it." The employee ended the phone call and told Ms Fox that her partner had put the AirPods in her work bag, blaming him for making the situation "so messy". She then told Ms Fox that she would go look for the AirPods. "I don't know where he put it but if you want to go, I'm happy, you can go." "No, I want my AirPods," Ms Fox said, as the employee walked away. Luckily the employee was able to find the AirPods and return them to the rightful owner. Commenters were left shocked by the employee's dismissive behaviour and alleged she intentionally stole them. Image: TikTok

Technology

Woman steals artwork then WEARS it back to the museum

A 72-year-old French woman has been arrested after stealing an art installation from a museum. Catalan artist Oriol Vilanova exhibited a blue jacket filled with postcards visitors could remove and examine at the Musée Picasso in Paris. However, the elderly woman took the interactive exhibit one step further by taking the entire jacket and walking out with the garment. The woman returned to the museum a few days later wearing the jacket, which she had tailored to fit her properly. She was arrested by the police upon her return, who happened to be at the museum collecting evidence at the time. While in custody, the retiree – who was reportedly “passionate” about art – confessed immediately to taking the jacket, according to local news outlet Le Parisien, but claimed she did not know it was an artwork. After hours of interrogation, the public prosecutor’s office let the woman off with a warning and dropped the case. According to Le Parisien, the woman had been placed under guardianship. The artwork, titled Old Masters, involved filling the pockets of a blue jacket with postcards depicting artworks by major figures in art history. At the Musée Picasso, the jacket was filled with postcards purchased at flea markets and museum shops, all with images of Picasso’s work. “When the museum told me the work had been stolen, I was surprised, but it was impossible to envisage the story that followed,” Vilanova told Artnet News. Image credits: Le Parisien

Art

London gallery returns stolen works to Nepalese owners

Two artefacts that were stolen 30 years ago from a temple in Nepal have been repatriated in a ceremony at the Nepalese embassy in London. The 16th-century carved wooden Torana, a ceremonial gateway, and the 17th-century stone statue of a kneeling devotee were both taken from a sacred site near Kathmandu, according to detective superintendent John Roch of the London Metropolitan police at the handover, which was attended by the Nepalese ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya. In a statement, both parties expressed “their willingness to work closely and promote the collaborative efforts for the preservation of cultural heritage.” Both artefacts were found in the holdings of Barakat Gallery’s London branch, with the London Metropolitan police claiming that the pieces had been inherited from a deceased relative, and had been in the family’s possession for 20 years. Barakat voluntarily relinquished the artefacts after they were determined to be the looted cultural property of Nepal. “I am deeply committed to [supporting] Nepali efforts in protecting and repatriating its rich cultural heritage, and hope we can all continue to fight to reinstate access, agency and power over their living heritage to the Nepali people,” Emiline Smith, a professor of criminology at the University of Glasgow, wrote on Twitter. Emiline specialises in the global illegal trade in cultural objects originating from Asia, and brought the issue to the attention of the authorities in Nepal and Interpol, which then connected with London’s police. Nepal’s acting consul general Bishnu Prasad Gautam received the artefacts on behalf of the Nepalese government in a ceremony organised by the museum. In a statement, Gautam called the repatriation “proactive,” adding that gallery’s cooperation has “positively contributed to Nepal’s national efforts” to recover its stolen cultural property from foreign collections. Image credits: The Nepalese Embassy in London

Art

Special Forces veteran delivers heartfelt plea over stolen puppy

Special Forces veteran Luke Evans has launched an emotional appeal after his seven-week old puppy was stolen from his doggy daycare farm on Monday morningThe father-of-three set up the farm on NSW's Central Coast three years ago with the help of his wife following 11 years of service in the navy to help him cope with his PTSD. The farm offers daycare for pets and also works to rehabilitate and find forever homes for rescue dogs. The dogs, who were all secret inside at the time of the theft, began barking around 4am to alert the couple that something was wrong. The navy veteran got up to check out the commotion, but didn't find out of the ordinary. It wasn't the next morning that Luke realised one of their beautiful blue-eyed Australian Shepherd-husky cross litter pups was missing. The puppy was taken from a seperate room where the litter was being kept away from the larger dogs during the night. "This little male pup that has been taken is just 7 weeks old, incredibly cute, two bright blue eyes and perfect Blue Merle and White markings," the family wrote online."The little one is microchipped and the number has been reported as stolen.""We sincerely hope that someone might make the right decision to hand him in somewhere. Or perhaps someone might recognise him and let the police know.""We are heartbroken. Numb. Terribly deflated. So many emotions right now. Disappointed. Disbelief. Concerned. Upset. Angry. Lost," the post read. The 37-year-old navy veteran suspects the thief had been watching his daycare's YouTube channel, where he shares updates on his animals and an insight into their life on the farm, in order to plan the daring heist.Following the theft, the farm has been set up with extra security measures including multiple cameras and alarms to keep their animals safe.Image credits: Facebook - Doggy Daycare Farm Trips

Family & Pets

“How dare you”: PM’s ‘apology’ to Stolen Generations slammed

Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe is among many Indigenous leaders who have <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10509713/Aboriginal-senator-Lidia-Thorpe-blasts-Scott-Morrison-Stolen-Generations-speech.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticised</a> Prime Minister Scott Morrison for asking for forgiveness on the anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations.Mr Morrison spoke about the anniversary in a speech to Parliament on Monday, marking 14 years since former Prime Minister Rudd made the historic apology.The Rudd government issued the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples in 2008, acknowledging the historic laws and policies that led to the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities.Mr Morrison said an apology involves “standing in the middle ground exposed, vulnerable and seeking forgiveness”.“And as I said when I spoke in support of the original motion here in this place on the other side of the Chamber 14 years ago, sorry can never be given without any expectation of forgiveness. But there can be hope,” Mr Morrison said.“Forgiveness is never earned or deserved. It’s an act of courage. And it is a gift that only those who have been wounded, damaged and destroyed can offer.“Forgiveness transcends all of that. It’s an act of grace. It’s an act of courage. And it is a gift that only those who have been wounded, damaged and destroyed can offer.“I also said 14 years ago, ‘sorry is not the hardest word to say, the hardest is I forgive you’.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is outright disrespect to all those effected by Stolen Generations in this country. How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology. <a href="https://t.co/3VG6OcVGuN">pic.twitter.com/3VG6OcVGuN</a>— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorThorpe/status/1493049463166083072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>Following Mr Morrison’s speech, Senator Thorpe shared her criticism of the Prime Minister on Twitter, saying he had shown “outright disrespect” to members of the Stolen Generations.“This is outright disrespect to all those affected by Stolen Generations in this country,” the Greens member wrote.“How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our official* response to what Scott Morrison said today: *polite <a href="https://t.co/DRsrdGvcV1">pic.twitter.com/DRsrdGvcV1</a>— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/firstpeoplesvic/status/1493069336940285953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>The <a href="https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria</a>, the organisation responsible for developing a treaty with the state government, also released a statement on Twitter, simply stating: “Get in the bin.”Marcus Stewart, a co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly, later shared a translation of the statement in Taungurung - the language spoken by the Taungurung people whose country encompasses much of central Victoria.“Some people have said our media release was rude,” he captioned the photo of the translated statement.“For the haters, is it more poetic in language?”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Some people have said our media release was rude. For the haters, is it more poetic in language? <a href="https://t.co/rDa4zz7b0p">pic.twitter.com/rDa4zz7b0p</a>— Marcus Stewart (@marcusbstewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcusbstewart/status/1493128028305903619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt also made a statement marking the anniversary in Parliament, where he said that although acknowledging “the wrongdoing can ease some suffering, it will never remove it”.Image: House of Representatives

News

Heartbroken tradie's ute stolen with mother's ashes in glovebox

A man from Queensland has been left heartbroken after his ute, with his mother’s ashes in the glove box was stolen.Carpenter Kayden Holmes had left his key in the ignition of his white Holden Colorado as he loaded tools into the boot when a thief jumped in and sped off on Sunday.The incident was captured on a neighbour’s security camera and the footage was shared on social media. The clip shows Mr Holmes’ attempt to stop the grab and dash before he was dragged along the road in Holmview, a residential suburb of Logan.The tradie was left with an ankle injury after his foot was run over during the scuffle. He is now desperate for the return of his mother’s ashes, which had been placed inside a piece of jewellery following her death from cancer in 2015.It’s unlikely the alleged thief knew the precious item was inside the glove box of the ute when it was taken.“The car is replaceable, everything in that car is replaceable, but the ashes aren’t,” he told 7NEWS on Tuesday.“I need them back, I don’t want them, I need them.”Mr Holmes told Sunrise that he was now offering “a reward to anyone that comes forward with information leading to the name or the arrest, even just the ashes”.“That’s just the last thing I have of mum and it takes a lot to make me upset, and we’ve gone through a lot of humps in this road, but this one has knocked me about a bit.”Mr Holmes said he kept the ashes in his car as he liked to have his mother near him at all times.“I just thought that having her in the car with me, she can come everywhere I go kind of thing, just to have that kind of reassurance.”Queensland Police are investigating the incident and urge anyone with information to contact them.Image: 7 News

Legal

The mother and daughter duo healing each other with art

Gumbaynggirr woman Melissa Greenwood and her mum, Lauren Jarrett, know a thing or two about going through difficult times. They both hail from the Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti and Bundjalung tribes of the east coast of New South Wales, where Lauren is a survivor of the Stolen Generations. In 1966, she was stolen from her family at Bowraville on the NSW mid-north coast and placed in the Cowper Orphanage, near Grafton. Lauren was just nine years old at the time. "It was like the end of the world. You have no idea what's going on, you're not really told anything. It's devastating," she told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-06/melissa-greenwood-and-mum-heals-stolen-generation-hurt-with-art/100718998">ABC</a>. "You're just taken away from your loved ones, put in a car with strangers. "In those days they had nuns with those long habits and big crosses, and headpieces; and I had no idea where I was or who they were. I had never seen a nun before. "It was overwhelming … anything to do with your culture was banned." When she was 18, Lauren was released from the orphanage and went looking for her family, who were thrilled with her long-awaited return. Now 63, Lauren went on to have two daughters and a son and raised them all as a single mother. Lauren’s daughter Melissa said, "We grew up below the poverty line and struggling with her trauma, and then inter-generational trauma that was passed down. It was really difficult." Together, their struggles as Indigenous women pushed them to strive for more. In 2020, the pair started an art business which they called <a href="https://miimiandjiinda.com/collections/prints">Miimi & Jiinda</a>, meaning mother and sister. After just a few short months, their business is thriving and has completely turned their lives around. "It's really a beautiful thing," Melissa says. "It's just stemmed from me really wanting to see my mum happy and to give her a bit of confidence and get her out in the world and see her beauty. "We just started to paint and weave together and create together and then it just really took off." For both women, creating art together has helped them heal from past inter-generational trauma, and provided an outlet for them to share their connection to their culture. Melissa says she “paints from the heart” and uses her creations to help tell their stories as strong Aboriginal women. "Mum raised us to be very culturally strong and culturally proud," she says. "A lot of the artworks I do are inspired by my connection to my ancestors, to my culture and to my people. "It's just that loving heart energy, that Gumbaynggirr energy." Image credits: Instagram @barefootwandering.photography

Art

Fresh insight into troubled past of Cleo's alleged abductor

Content warning: This article contains references to deceased Indigenous individuals. Audio has emerged of the woman who raised Terence Darrell Kelly, Cleo Smith’s alleged abductor, revealing that he had a tumultuous early life. The 36-year-old Carnarvon man was removed from his mother’s care as a two-year-old and was raised by Penny Walker, a respected member of the Indigenous community. “His mum didn’t want him and she threw him away,” she <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-found-accused-kidnapper-terence-darrell-kellys-traumatic-childhood-revealed-c-4476537">said </a>in an interview from 2019. “I looked down at him and this little boy - God was giving me something back in my life what the welfare took off me - my children.” Ms Walker said Mr Kelly’s mother was a drug addict and didn’t want him. She then took him in and raised him alongside her two grandsons - who she was caring for after her daughter died from multiple sclerosis (MS). In the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/audio-files-reveal-difficult-upbringing-of-cleo-smith-s-alleged-abductor-terence-kelly-20211108-p596y8.html" target="_blank">interview</a>, she also spoke about her own traumatic childhood as a member of the Stolen Generation. She spoke of the poor treatment she received as a child at the Moore River Native Settlement and New Norcia Mission, where she was the victim of sexual abuse and beatings. Ms Walker said this led her to become an alcoholic, which resulted in her six children being taken away. She then turned her life around and became a respected member of the Indigenous community in Carnarvon. Ms Walker died in 2020, leaving Mr Kelly alone in their Carnarvon home. When police arrived at the home last week, they found Cleo in a room sitting upright and playing with toys. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845436/terence-kelly1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e959eb1a366f41e8bff36ecb3282bf94" /> Terence Darrell Kelly boards a plane to Perth, where he will stay in custody until he returns to court in December. Image: Getty Images Mr Kelly was then arrested and faced Carnarvon Magistrate’s Court for several <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/i-m-coming-for-you-suspect-charged-in-cleo-s-alleged-abduction" target="_blank">charges</a>, including forcibly taking a child under 16. His neighbours described Mr Kelly as a “quiet” and “lonely” individual. The day after his court appearance, he was flown from Carnarvon to Perth and spent his first night in a maximum-security prison. Detectives have since returned to his home as part of their investigation into Cleo’s abduction. Police said they don’t believe the alleged abduction was planned and are investigating a theory that Mr Kelly came across Cleo by chance, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-found-accused-kidnapper-terence-darrell-kellys-traumatic-childhood-revealed-c-4476537" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. Mr Kelly has been remanded in custody for four weeks and is due to return to court in December. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Andy Murray finds stolen wedding ring after issuing plea on social media

Tennis legend Andy Murray took to Instagram on Thursday to issue an unusual plea: help finding his missing wedding ring. According to the video, Murray had left his tennis shoes outside to air them out, and naturally, his wedding ring was tied to his shoes as he can’t wear it when he’s playing. “Last night after dinner here in Indian Wells, I got back in the car to go back to the hotel and the car didn’t smell great,” he said. “I’d left my tennis shoes in there. It’s been like 38-39 degrees so the shoes are damp, sweaty and smelly. “I decided when I got back to the hotel that the shoes needed some air, I needed to dry them out a little bit. I have no balcony in my room and didn’t want to leave them in my room because it would stink the room out. “So I thought I’m going to leave the shoes underneath the car to get some air to them and dry them out overnight.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUt3I1jMnCS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUt3I1jMnCS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray)</a> </div> </blockquote> Unfortunately, when he got back to the car, the shoes were gone. “I had to go to a local pro shop to buy different shoes to what I normally wear — different brand and everything — which isn’t the end of the world but obviously not ideal.” It wasn’t until later, when his physio pointed out his wedding ring was missing, that Murray realised something far more valuable had been lost. “Needless to say I’m in the bad books at home so I want to try and find it,” he said. “If anyone can share this or may have any clue where it may be, it would be very helpful so I can try get it back.” Fortunately, the saga has a happy ending. Murray posted an update on Thursday afternoon, letting his followers know that the shoes and the ring had been found. He thanked his fans for sharing the story, and explained that after making a few calls and chatting to hotel security, the incredibly smelly shoes and the ring were both returned to him. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUvmTIzoVM7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUvmTIzoVM7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray)</a> </div> </blockquote> “They still absolutely stink, but the shoes are back, the wedding ring is back, and I’m back in the good books. Let’s go!” Murray is in California for the Indian Wells tournament, with Murray set to play France’s Adrian Mannarino in his first round match on Saturday. Image: Andy Murray/Instagram

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Thief returns stolen truck with note of apology – and gifts!

Famous movie plots that were stolen from other films

Mother’s car stolen with baby still inside

Mistletoe – famous for stolen holiday kisses – is a parasite that steals water and nutrients from other plants

"I am devastated": Disabled boy's modified tricycle stolen

"Return our stolen diamonds!": Renewed pleas over the Great Star of Africa

96-year-old woman alleges almost $500,000 stolen by son

New York museums now required to acknowledge art stolen under Nazi rule

United States returns stolen artefacts to Cambodia

101-year-old reunited with painting looted by Nazis

Mother of "stolen" four-month-old baby speaks out

One young woman's plight to recover her stolen Airpods

Woman steals artwork then WEARS it back to the museum

London gallery returns stolen works to Nepalese owners

Special Forces veteran delivers heartfelt plea over stolen puppy

“How dare you”: PM’s ‘apology’ to Stolen Generations slammed

Heartbroken tradie's ute stolen with mother's ashes in glovebox

The mother and daughter duo healing each other with art

Fresh insight into troubled past of Cleo's alleged abductor

Andy Murray finds stolen wedding ring after issuing plea on social media

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Thief returns stolen truck with note of apology – and gifts!

Famous movie plots that were stolen from other films

Mother’s car stolen with baby still inside

Mistletoe – famous for stolen holiday kisses – is a parasite that steals water and nutrients from other plants

"I am devastated": Disabled boy's modified tricycle stolen

"Return our stolen diamonds!": ﻿Renewed pleas over the Great Star of Africa ﻿

96-year-old woman alleges almost $500,000 stolen by son

New York museums now required to acknowledge art stolen under Nazi rule

United States returns stolen artefacts to Cambodia

101-year-old reunited with painting looted by Nazis

Mother of "stolen" four-month-old baby speaks out

One young woman's plight to recover her stolen Airpods

Woman steals artwork then WEARS it back to the museum

London gallery returns stolen works to Nepalese owners

Special Forces veteran delivers heartfelt plea over stolen puppy

“How dare you”: PM’s ‘apology’ to Stolen Generations slammed

Heartbroken tradie's ute stolen with mother's ashes in glovebox

The mother and daughter duo healing each other with art

Fresh insight into troubled past of Cleo's alleged abductor

Andy Murray finds stolen wedding ring after issuing plea on social media

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"Return our stolen diamonds!": Renewed pleas over the Great Star of Africa