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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Alleged motorbike thief recovers after being punched and robbed while impaled on stake
An Australian man is in a stable condition in hospital after he was impaled by a garden stake in a motorcycle crash, then reportedly robbed and assaulted at the accident scene.
A South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service spokesperson said the 39-year-old man, who was airlifted to St George Hospital on Sunday afternoon, was originally admitted in a serious but stable condition but had since improved.
The man allegedly stole a motorbike and was riding it along Adelaide St, Greenwell Point, when he lost control and slid into a garden bed at 1.45pm on Sunday. A timber metre-long garden stake was driven through his right armpit and out his back, while a puncture wound was also found on his leg.
NSW Ambulance officers said they responded to reports of a man who had a garden stake in his torso and required surgical intervention.
Paramedics arrived to find the man conscious and the stake already pulled from his body. Nowra police said there was no motorcycle at the scene when authorities arrived.
A source said the owner of the bike had caught up with the rider, pulled out the stake and punched him on the nose before taking his wallet and reclaiming the motorcycle. The injured man was taken to hospital suffering internal injuries and a suspected broken nose.
A South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service spokesperson said the 39-year-old man, who was airlifted to St George Hospital on Sunday afternoon, was originally admitted in a serious but stable condition but had since improved.
The man allegedly stole a motorbike and was riding it along Adelaide St, Greenwell Point, when he lost control and slid into a garden bed at 1.45pm on Sunday. A timber metre-long garden stake was driven through his right armpit and out his back, while a puncture wound was also found on his leg.
NSW Ambulance officers said they responded to reports of a man who had a garden stake in his torso and required surgical intervention.
Paramedics arrived to find the man conscious and the stake already pulled from his body. Nowra police said there was no motorcycle at the scene when authorities arrived.
A source said the owner of the bike had caught up with the rider, pulled out the stake and punched him on the nose before taking his wallet and reclaiming the motorcycle. The injured man was taken to hospital suffering internal injuries and a suspected broken nose.
Drunk bride found trapped in baking BMW after wedding
Cologne police rescued a highly intoxicated 30-year-old bride from her overheated car while sleeping off the wedding party, German authorities reported on Monday.
A witness reported that she’d noticed a woman in a blue BMW during “blazing heat” for several hours in a parking lot. When police arrived they found the woman sleeping in the back seat, still wearing her wedding gown and next to an opened case of vodka bottles and other gifts from her nuptials.
“Far and wide, however, no accompanying groom,” a statement said. The vehicle was locked and the bride did not respond to rapping on the window. Only after officers gained access to the vehicle could they shake her awake.
The woman was apparently so intoxicated after celebrating her wedding in a nearby fishing clubhouse she couldn't find the keys to her car, so she climbed through a broken window. She then fell asleep in the car mid-day on Sunday.
The boozy bride was taken to a local hospital, treated for exhaustion, and released. Her car was impounded to ensure it was secure.
“Where and in what state her husband ended the wild ball night could not be determined,” the police said in a statement.
A witness reported that she’d noticed a woman in a blue BMW during “blazing heat” for several hours in a parking lot. When police arrived they found the woman sleeping in the back seat, still wearing her wedding gown and next to an opened case of vodka bottles and other gifts from her nuptials.
“Far and wide, however, no accompanying groom,” a statement said. The vehicle was locked and the bride did not respond to rapping on the window. Only after officers gained access to the vehicle could they shake her awake.
The woman was apparently so intoxicated after celebrating her wedding in a nearby fishing clubhouse she couldn't find the keys to her car, so she climbed through a broken window. She then fell asleep in the car mid-day on Sunday.
The boozy bride was taken to a local hospital, treated for exhaustion, and released. Her car was impounded to ensure it was secure.
“Where and in what state her husband ended the wild ball night could not be determined,” the police said in a statement.
Man jumped into river to escape wife's nagging
A man jumped into a fast-flowing river because he couldn't take his wife's nagging anymore. The Chinese lorry driver, known as Zhou, and his wife were on a ferry on the Yangtze River when it all became too much for him.
Members of the ship's crew saw the man suddenly run out of his cabin with his hands covering his ears, and shouting: "I can't stand it any longer."
They initially thought he was suffering from an ear injury and went to help him but found he was unhurt. "While we were still puzzling over the this, his wife ran up and continued nagging him," said a crewmate.
"The husband covered his ears again and said: 'I need a break' before jumping over the side into the rushing river. We immediately found lamps to light up the water but found nobody. The possibility of survival can be zero."
However, later that night, police found the man who had managed to swim about 2km across across the broad river. I felt I was dying, but even that's better than my wife's nagging," he reportedly told the police.
The couple were reunited the following morning at the local police station where Zhou's wife promised to give up her habit of nagging him.
Members of the ship's crew saw the man suddenly run out of his cabin with his hands covering his ears, and shouting: "I can't stand it any longer."
They initially thought he was suffering from an ear injury and went to help him but found he was unhurt. "While we were still puzzling over the this, his wife ran up and continued nagging him," said a crewmate.
"The husband covered his ears again and said: 'I need a break' before jumping over the side into the rushing river. We immediately found lamps to light up the water but found nobody. The possibility of survival can be zero."
However, later that night, police found the man who had managed to swim about 2km across across the broad river. I felt I was dying, but even that's better than my wife's nagging," he reportedly told the police.
The couple were reunited the following morning at the local police station where Zhou's wife promised to give up her habit of nagging him.
Nepal villagers flock to worship malformed baby as Hindu god
Thousands of people have flocked to a remote Nepalese village 2,000 metres up in the Himalayas to worship a baby born with four arms and four legs, revering him as the reincarnation of a Hindu god.
Villagers in the district of Ramechhap have said six-month-old Risab, who has a headless "parasitic twin" attached at the abdomen, is akin to the elephant god, Ganesh, whose various forms have between two and 16 arms.
"Some say he is like a god and they come to worship him and give money," his 32-year-old father, Rikhi Ghimire, said. "They just give a few rupees, make an offering. Mostly the gifts are food and clothes. Others have said he looks like a monkey or is the child of a witch."
About 5,000 people have visited the baby since he was born, according to local teacher Prem KC. He says some have walked or taken long bus journeys from faraway districts. A local Hindu priest has blamed the late and erratic monsoon rains on the baby. "Some say it is a miracle or that it is God, and others say it is a curse. There is a lack of awareness so villagers cannot understand it," Ghimire said.
Risab's mother, Januk, who has two other sons, was in severe pain for five days before the delivery and thought she would die during labour. She gave birth in January on her porch with only her mother by her side. "When he was born I was frightened about what the other villagers would say," she said. "If my husband hadn't been there, I would have been scared they would say I was a witch and come and kill me."
She says it is difficult to care for the child and even simple activities such as putting him to sleep, bathing or putting oil on him – a common practice for newborn babies in Nepal – are not easy. Rikhi wants his son to have an operation so that he can have a "normal life", but says the family cannot even afford to take him out of the country to seek surgical advice. "It's not a small operation. It needs a huge amount of money which I cannot provide," he said.
Villagers in the district of Ramechhap have said six-month-old Risab, who has a headless "parasitic twin" attached at the abdomen, is akin to the elephant god, Ganesh, whose various forms have between two and 16 arms.
"Some say he is like a god and they come to worship him and give money," his 32-year-old father, Rikhi Ghimire, said. "They just give a few rupees, make an offering. Mostly the gifts are food and clothes. Others have said he looks like a monkey or is the child of a witch."
About 5,000 people have visited the baby since he was born, according to local teacher Prem KC. He says some have walked or taken long bus journeys from faraway districts. A local Hindu priest has blamed the late and erratic monsoon rains on the baby. "Some say it is a miracle or that it is God, and others say it is a curse. There is a lack of awareness so villagers cannot understand it," Ghimire said.
Risab's mother, Januk, who has two other sons, was in severe pain for five days before the delivery and thought she would die during labour. She gave birth in January on her porch with only her mother by her side. "When he was born I was frightened about what the other villagers would say," she said. "If my husband hadn't been there, I would have been scared they would say I was a witch and come and kill me."
She says it is difficult to care for the child and even simple activities such as putting him to sleep, bathing or putting oil on him – a common practice for newborn babies in Nepal – are not easy. Rikhi wants his son to have an operation so that he can have a "normal life", but says the family cannot even afford to take him out of the country to seek surgical advice. "It's not a small operation. It needs a huge amount of money which I cannot provide," he said.
Dog wouldn't leave dead master
A scruffy bitzer dog called Moja was hailed a hero after sticking by his dead master's side for two days and guiding rescuers to the hidden spot where the Sunshine Coast man crashed his car.
Consultant horticulturalist and DPI researcher Henry Drew, 53, of Palmwoods, Australia, died when his utility ran off the Bruce Highway near Curra, north of Gympie, on Friday.
He and his constant companion Moja, who survived the crash uninjured, were thrown into dense scrub as the vehicle plunged several metres down a steep embankment into trees.
All Mr Drew's wife Jenny knew was that her husband had been visiting macadamia farms in the Kin Kin-Gympie region. When he did not respond to her phone calls on Friday afternoon, she became worried and raised the alarm.
Police, family, friends and two AGL rescue helicopters from Bundaberg and Maroochydore began searching, but with a 1000sq km radius to cover, trying to find the white Nissan utility was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It was not until Saturday that a woman from a farmhouse near Curra decided to investigate after hearing a dog barking for hours on end. Following the noise she found the crash site where she saw Moja sitting next to Mr Drew's body beside the vehicle. Emergency service workers said the utility was impossible to see from the air.
Consultant horticulturalist and DPI researcher Henry Drew, 53, of Palmwoods, Australia, died when his utility ran off the Bruce Highway near Curra, north of Gympie, on Friday.
He and his constant companion Moja, who survived the crash uninjured, were thrown into dense scrub as the vehicle plunged several metres down a steep embankment into trees.
All Mr Drew's wife Jenny knew was that her husband had been visiting macadamia farms in the Kin Kin-Gympie region. When he did not respond to her phone calls on Friday afternoon, she became worried and raised the alarm.
Police, family, friends and two AGL rescue helicopters from Bundaberg and Maroochydore began searching, but with a 1000sq km radius to cover, trying to find the white Nissan utility was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It was not until Saturday that a woman from a farmhouse near Curra decided to investigate after hearing a dog barking for hours on end. Following the noise she found the crash site where she saw Moja sitting next to Mr Drew's body beside the vehicle. Emergency service workers said the utility was impossible to see from the air.
India's floating supermarket is a big hit
In the sylvan backwaters of India's southern state of Kerala, a floating supermarket is making waves. Touted as the first of its kind in India, the Floating Triveni calls at various ports, stacked with some 2,000 items of groceries and provisions.
Among its cargo are rice, grains and cereals, and stationery and toiletries. More than a million people are in the path of the floating mart which is a big hit with the customers. It can accommodate 20 customers plus eight crew members at any given time.
Photos from here.
The vessel sets off every morning at 8am and replenishments are done during the night halt.
The unique service was launched on 7 June by Consumerfed (Kerala State Consumer Cooperative Federation), which manages the government-backed retail cooperative societies.
The idea of a floating barge first met with a lot of scepticism because many feared it would be commercially unviable.
Officials say the business will be expanded soon and the vessel will also deliver home appliances like washing machine or fridge to those who place an order in advance. It will also have a computer room where children can play games.
Among its cargo are rice, grains and cereals, and stationery and toiletries. More than a million people are in the path of the floating mart which is a big hit with the customers. It can accommodate 20 customers plus eight crew members at any given time.
Photos from here.
The vessel sets off every morning at 8am and replenishments are done during the night halt.
The unique service was launched on 7 June by Consumerfed (Kerala State Consumer Cooperative Federation), which manages the government-backed retail cooperative societies.
The idea of a floating barge first met with a lot of scepticism because many feared it would be commercially unviable.
Officials say the business will be expanded soon and the vessel will also deliver home appliances like washing machine or fridge to those who place an order in advance. It will also have a computer room where children can play games.
Nepali widows protest marriage incentive
About 200 women marched through the Nepali capital Monday to denounce a government scheme to pay cash incentives to men for marrying widows.
Nepal's centre-left coalition announced a plan last month to pay men the equivalent of $650 for marrying widows, angering the widows.
Monday, women shouting slogans such as "You can't sell your mother," and "We don't want government dowries," marched toward a government complex that houses the prime minister's office. They were stopped by riot police, but there were no arrests or violence.
Photo from here.
Durga Neupane, an organizer and a widow, said activists would mobilize widows throughout the Himalayan nation if the government failed to scrap the decision by Friday. "If that is not done we'll gather widows from across the country and organize more protests," she said.
The government says the scheme seeks to help widows who face social and cultural barriers in a majority-Hindu society.
But Neupane said it would only add to their woes as men would marry widows for money and later abandon them. Widows, she said, should instead be given jobs, better health care and education.
Nepal's centre-left coalition announced a plan last month to pay men the equivalent of $650 for marrying widows, angering the widows.
Monday, women shouting slogans such as "You can't sell your mother," and "We don't want government dowries," marched toward a government complex that houses the prime minister's office. They were stopped by riot police, but there were no arrests or violence.
Photo from here.
Durga Neupane, an organizer and a widow, said activists would mobilize widows throughout the Himalayan nation if the government failed to scrap the decision by Friday. "If that is not done we'll gather widows from across the country and organize more protests," she said.
The government says the scheme seeks to help widows who face social and cultural barriers in a majority-Hindu society.
But Neupane said it would only add to their woes as men would marry widows for money and later abandon them. Widows, she said, should instead be given jobs, better health care and education.
Mona Lisa in English breakfast tea attack
A woman was being held in Paris today after attacking the Mona Lisa with a cup of English breakfast tea.
A ceramic mug full of the steaming brew was emptied all over the most famous work of art in the world in front of stunned security guards at the French capital's Louvre Museum.
They wrestled the Russian to the ground following the attack on August 2nd a Sunday - which has only just been reported. Leonardo Da Vinci's priceless masterpiece, which is known at La Joconde in France, is surrounded by bullet-proof glass which is also designed to resist heat, humidity and vibrations.
'The painting is intact and unharmed, but this violent attack was hugely worrying,' said a source at the museum.
'The woman ordered a cup of English breakfast tea in a museum cafe before heading for La Joconde and flinging the liquid all over it.
'She was arrested by security guards immediately and the police were called. She is still being held while enquiries continue.'
A ceramic mug full of the steaming brew was emptied all over the most famous work of art in the world in front of stunned security guards at the French capital's Louvre Museum.
They wrestled the Russian to the ground following the attack on August 2nd a Sunday - which has only just been reported. Leonardo Da Vinci's priceless masterpiece, which is known at La Joconde in France, is surrounded by bullet-proof glass which is also designed to resist heat, humidity and vibrations.
'The painting is intact and unharmed, but this violent attack was hugely worrying,' said a source at the museum.
'The woman ordered a cup of English breakfast tea in a museum cafe before heading for La Joconde and flinging the liquid all over it.
'She was arrested by security guards immediately and the police were called. She is still being held while enquiries continue.'
Man to marry pillow
A Nigerian man who says he cannot get a girlfriend because of his bad stutter has announced plans to marry his pillow.
Okeke Ikechukwu, 26, a labourer, from Lagos, said that his stammer made it difficult for him to speak to girls.
"Since I am a stutterer, ladies have always laughed at me whenever I try to talk to them," he said.
"I have needs, and so I have taken to sleeping with my pillow in my arms ever since I was 16. I have grown to fall in love with it, and I intend to spend the rest of my life with it."
Mr Ikechukwu also said that, unlike a woman, the pillow would cost him little or nothing to maintain for the rest of its life.
"I think it will make the ideal mate for me," he said.
Okeke Ikechukwu, 26, a labourer, from Lagos, said that his stammer made it difficult for him to speak to girls.
"Since I am a stutterer, ladies have always laughed at me whenever I try to talk to them," he said.
"I have needs, and so I have taken to sleeping with my pillow in my arms ever since I was 16. I have grown to fall in love with it, and I intend to spend the rest of my life with it."
Mr Ikechukwu also said that, unlike a woman, the pillow would cost him little or nothing to maintain for the rest of its life.
"I think it will make the ideal mate for me," he said.
Dog that was mascot for troops in Iraq will not be brought to Britain
Sandbag, a dog who became a mascot for British troops serving in Iraq, will remain there after the Government rejected a campaign for him to be brought back to Britain.
Sandbag had been living with military personnel at their base in Um Qasa, near Basra, and was credited with bringing them good luck on patrols. He is rumoured to have survived being shot five times.
However, when the withdrawal of forces was announced there were fears he would be put down by the Iraqis or killed by local dogs. More than 6,000 people signed a petition on the Number 10 website calling for the dog to be given refuge in the UK.
But their hopes were finally dashed when the Government confirmed that Sandbag and his fellow mascot, Hesco the cat, would be staying put.
"The base in Um Qasa where Sandbag and Hesco were living has now been handed over to American forces," the Downing Street response said. "Our US colleagues have assured us that both Sandbag and Hesco will be well cared for. Both are currently fit and healthy.
"As they had lived on the base since birth, British forces felt that staying there would be best for Sandbag and Hesco. Commanders on the grounds always take decisions on the future of mascot animals on a case-by-case basis. The Government supports the decision taken in this case."
Sandbag had been living with military personnel at their base in Um Qasa, near Basra, and was credited with bringing them good luck on patrols. He is rumoured to have survived being shot five times.
However, when the withdrawal of forces was announced there were fears he would be put down by the Iraqis or killed by local dogs. More than 6,000 people signed a petition on the Number 10 website calling for the dog to be given refuge in the UK.
But their hopes were finally dashed when the Government confirmed that Sandbag and his fellow mascot, Hesco the cat, would be staying put.
"The base in Um Qasa where Sandbag and Hesco were living has now been handed over to American forces," the Downing Street response said. "Our US colleagues have assured us that both Sandbag and Hesco will be well cared for. Both are currently fit and healthy.
"As they had lived on the base since birth, British forces felt that staying there would be best for Sandbag and Hesco. Commanders on the grounds always take decisions on the future of mascot animals on a case-by-case basis. The Government supports the decision taken in this case."
Lemur is new arrival at safari park
Staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling in Central Scotland, where two-week old Ruffles resides are still unsure whether the animal is a boy or a girl.
The red-ruffed lemur was pictured getting to grips with its new surroundings.
There are more photos here.
The red-ruffed lemur was pictured getting to grips with its new surroundings.
There are more photos here.
40-year-old Asian elephant, gets £500 slippers
Gay, a 40-year-old Asian elephant, has become the best dressed zoo inhabitant in Britain after her keepers at Paignton Zoo fitted her with a pair of £500 slippers. Gay has been suffering from painful abscesses on her front feet for the past few months so her keepers at the Devon zoo decided to commission some footwear.
At £250 each, the shoes did not come cheap but they do feature elephant-proof laces. They were made by Aussie Dog - a specialist company that has worked with elephants across South East Asia. Each boot is about 40 centimetres in diameter and to make a good fit keepers had to draw an outline around each foot to make patterns that were sent off to Australia.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park curator of mammals Neil Bemment said that Gay also gets regular pedicures and antibiotic foot baths, and has aloe-vera rubbed into her feet to decrease swelling and provide pain relief.
"Gay is nearly 40 years old that's middle-aged for an elephant - and weighs around four tonnes. Some elephants can be prone to foot problems," he said. "Her welfare is our prime concern, so we decided to have these protective boots made which will help in the treatment of her front feet."
At £250 each, the shoes did not come cheap but they do feature elephant-proof laces. They were made by Aussie Dog - a specialist company that has worked with elephants across South East Asia. Each boot is about 40 centimetres in diameter and to make a good fit keepers had to draw an outline around each foot to make patterns that were sent off to Australia.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park curator of mammals Neil Bemment said that Gay also gets regular pedicures and antibiotic foot baths, and has aloe-vera rubbed into her feet to decrease swelling and provide pain relief.
"Gay is nearly 40 years old that's middle-aged for an elephant - and weighs around four tonnes. Some elephants can be prone to foot problems," he said. "Her welfare is our prime concern, so we decided to have these protective boots made which will help in the treatment of her front feet."
43 items worth £40 million stolen in London jewellery heist
Robbers stole nearly £40m of items from a London jewellers in what police say was Britain's second biggest robbery.
Two men with handguns threatened staff at Graff jewellers in New Bond Street on 6 August before taking 43 items.
They dragged a female member of staff outside as they left the shop and fired a shot, although no-one was injured. CCTV images of the two men have been issued. The £40m haul is exceeded only by the £53m raid on a Securitas depot in Kent in 2006, a Met spokesman said.
Det Ch Insp Pam Mace from the Flying Squad said: "This was a well planned robbery with a number of vehicles used to help the robbers escape.
"These men are extremely dangerous and fired at least two shots in busy London streets as they made their getaway."
The first suspect is described as white, about 30 years old, slim and between 5ft 10ins and 6ft tall. The other man is described as black, in his 30s, 6ft tall, more well- built than the first suspect, with very short hair.
Two men with handguns threatened staff at Graff jewellers in New Bond Street on 6 August before taking 43 items.
They dragged a female member of staff outside as they left the shop and fired a shot, although no-one was injured. CCTV images of the two men have been issued. The £40m haul is exceeded only by the £53m raid on a Securitas depot in Kent in 2006, a Met spokesman said.
Det Ch Insp Pam Mace from the Flying Squad said: "This was a well planned robbery with a number of vehicles used to help the robbers escape.
"These men are extremely dangerous and fired at least two shots in busy London streets as they made their getaway."
The first suspect is described as white, about 30 years old, slim and between 5ft 10ins and 6ft tall. The other man is described as black, in his 30s, 6ft tall, more well- built than the first suspect, with very short hair.
Cat saves man from burning home
A cat is being hailed a hero after saving a man from his burning home. Andrew Williams was asleep when the fire broke out at his bungalow in Bracknell in Berkshire.
As black smoke filled the property, his neighbour's cat Hugo came through a cat-flap and raised the alarm by clawing at the father-of-two's face. Hugo and his brother Harvey are regular visitors to the cat lover's home.
Mr Williams, whose wife Sarah was visiting her sister at the time, was treated at the scene after breathing in smoke. A smoke detector had been moved during work on the bungalow. Rescuers said that the fire could have killed Mr Williams if he had not been awoken by Hugo.
Mr Williams said: "I was woken up with Hugo sitting on top of me clawing at my face. He was trying to wake me up.
"The fire chief said that I had better buy the cat a big piece of fish because he saved my life. I'm just so thankful to that little fella."
A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue said: "We are delighted that this very fire-aware cat was able to alert the family on this occasion. This just highlights the importance of having working smoke detectors inside your home."
With video.
As black smoke filled the property, his neighbour's cat Hugo came through a cat-flap and raised the alarm by clawing at the father-of-two's face. Hugo and his brother Harvey are regular visitors to the cat lover's home.
Mr Williams, whose wife Sarah was visiting her sister at the time, was treated at the scene after breathing in smoke. A smoke detector had been moved during work on the bungalow. Rescuers said that the fire could have killed Mr Williams if he had not been awoken by Hugo.
Mr Williams said: "I was woken up with Hugo sitting on top of me clawing at my face. He was trying to wake me up.
"The fire chief said that I had better buy the cat a big piece of fish because he saved my life. I'm just so thankful to that little fella."
A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue said: "We are delighted that this very fire-aware cat was able to alert the family on this occasion. This just highlights the importance of having working smoke detectors inside your home."
With video.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Hot hamster found locked in man's glove compartment
Police smelled a rat when they stopped a man who matched the description of a suspected thief on Thursday. But while searching Hans Kaiser's car for the allegedly stolen loot, they happened to smell another rodent: an overheated hamster locked in the vehicle's glove compartment.
Kaiser, 43, of Oakland Park, was arrested on one count of animal cruelty, two theft charges and one count of driving with a suspended license. He's being held in the Broward Main Jail without bond.
The hamster has been taken to a local wildlife rehabilitation center for treatment, said Cmdr. Michael Oh, a police spokesman.
Police say Kaiser swiped several eyeglass frames from the Eyesite Vision Center, 2490 N. Federal Highway, at about 4:30 p.m. Officers found him an hour after the alleged theft as he walked to his car from a bar close to the retailer, Oh said.
Officers searching his car found one of the eyeglass frames, Oh said. They also found a wet, frightened hamster inside the closed glove compartment.
"The officers thought it was a dead rat at first, but then it moved when they touched it," Oh said. An officer at the scene recorded the temperature at 90 degrees. Investigators think the hamster was in the car for at least an hour. Kaiser has refused to tell police why he kept the hamster in the glove compartment or if he's even the animal's owner.
Kaiser, 43, of Oakland Park, was arrested on one count of animal cruelty, two theft charges and one count of driving with a suspended license. He's being held in the Broward Main Jail without bond.
The hamster has been taken to a local wildlife rehabilitation center for treatment, said Cmdr. Michael Oh, a police spokesman.
Police say Kaiser swiped several eyeglass frames from the Eyesite Vision Center, 2490 N. Federal Highway, at about 4:30 p.m. Officers found him an hour after the alleged theft as he walked to his car from a bar close to the retailer, Oh said.
Officers searching his car found one of the eyeglass frames, Oh said. They also found a wet, frightened hamster inside the closed glove compartment.
"The officers thought it was a dead rat at first, but then it moved when they touched it," Oh said. An officer at the scene recorded the temperature at 90 degrees. Investigators think the hamster was in the car for at least an hour. Kaiser has refused to tell police why he kept the hamster in the glove compartment or if he's even the animal's owner.
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