Monday, July 12, 2010

Colton Harris-Moore, the Barefoot Bandit Arrested in the Bahamas

The “Barefoot Bandit” will now be wearing prison issued foot wear …

19 year old Colton Harris-Moore, known as the “Barefoot Bandit” has finally been arrested in the Bahamas after being on the run for two years. The US teenager allegedly stole cars, boats and airplanes to evade US law enforcement. Colton Harris-Moore was arrested in northern Eleuthera as he attempted to dock a boat at Harbour Island. Colton Harris-Moore now faces possible extradition back the the United States. Colton Harris-Moore was being transported to Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday.

Colton Harris-Moore, the Barefoot Bandit

The Barefoot bandit is the modern day version of “Catch Me if You Can,” the story made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks where Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor.


NASSAU, Bahamas – A U.S. teenager who allegedly stole cars, boats and airplanes to dodge U.S. law enforcement for two years was finally captured Sunday in the Bahamas, bringing an end to exploits that made the “Barefoot Bandit” a folk hero.

Colton Harris-Moore was arrested before dawn in northern Eleuthera, said Sgt. Chrislyn Skippings, a spokeswoman for the Royal Bahamas Police Force. A contingent of high-ranking officers traveled to the island to take the suspect to Nassau, the country’s capital, where he faces possible extradition to the United States.







The “Barefoot Bandit” was a folk hero of sorts who got his nickname after allegedly leaving shoeless prints at a series of crime scenes in the United States. Colton Harris-Moore has been on the run since 2008, when he escaped from a juvenile halfway house in Renton, Washington, after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary

His alleged exploits have resulted in a string of arrest warrants issued by local forces in the US as well as catapulting him to celebrity status. He has thousands of Facebook followers, a fan club selling “Run, Colton, Run” T-shirts and songs have been written about him.

Growing up just north of Seattle, Harris-Moore gained his first theft conviction at 12 and in 2007 was given a four-year sentence in juvenile detention. He escaped from an open window and went on the run after being moved to a halfway house.

Coming soon to a movie theatre near you a combination of “Footloose”, “Shoeless Joe Jackson” and “To Catch a Thief”.

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