Weird News

Chicago police said a West Side man who allegedly tried to walk out of a store with three expensive bottles of champagne under his jacket now has 63 arrests under his belt. Officers said the 70-year-old man was initially charged with misdemeanor retail theft, but the charge was upgraded to a felony Monday after authorities look over his extensive police record, which included 62 prior arrests. Read More

Prosecutors charged the co-owner of a Hermantown construction company with allegedly assaulting a construction worker with a backhoe. The criminal complaint said a 48-year-old man told investigators he wanted to "nudge" the victim, but didn't want to hurt him. He also said it was a stupid thing to do. Read More

A Eugene man fighting a home intruder to defend his mother and young children was bitten by a police dog after officers mistook him for the prowler they had been chasing through the neighborhood. Tim Crossan told The Register-Guard he broke his hand on the intruder's face during the fight, just before police burst in and sent the dog after him. Read More

Joey Chestnut maintained his dominance in the sport of competitive eating _ and expanded his palate _ by winning the first-ever Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating Championship in Las Vegas. Read More

Authorities said four men were arrested after being found sleeping in a garage stacked with stolen property. Pomona police Lt. Alex Rilloraza said officers discovered the suspects Friday while investigating the robbery of electronics from a nearby home. He said some of the stolen goods were in the suspects' pockets. Read More

Police in several Connecticut towns said they're dealing with a sticky situation _ chewing gum thefts. According to authorities, the number of people caught stealing chewing gum has noticeably increased recently. They believe the chewy contraband is ending up on the black market, where it's harder to trace than some other stolen goods. Read More

It's not quite Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds," but former Mannington Mayor Frank White says he's had enough of the winged creatures for a long time. White said his neighbor, City Councilman Jeff Michael, has been providing a regular smorgasbord for birds, with seed, bread and even French fries. Read More

It was the roll of a lifetime. Read More

Police in Florida say a graffiti artist who apparently ran out of paint midway through a spray-painted creation left a note to potential critics to explain the unfinished work. Read More

The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge. Read More