Holland's "salamander man"

[TJ]

Any of our Dutch members care to update us on this case (if, that is, they are not the directly involved party!)

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Dutch police capture 'salamander man'
Reuters Jan. 24, 2005

AMSTERDAM: Dutch police have arrested a thief they dubbed the "salamander man" who talked his way into the homes of dozens of unsuspecting people by saying he was looking for his lost salamander, hamster or iguana.

Police said they had been hunting the 33-year-old homeless man for months and that he had admitted to about 60 thefts in towns across the country. Once inside a house, the man stole wallets and loose cash. Police arrested him Friday after a tip off and found nine empty wallets in his car, which had been stolen the day before.

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[sergé]

They called me for a television show where they wanted to show that there really are people keeping salamanders and what to do if they escape... (the wet towel trick). Ad Bouwman, an eminent member of the Dutch Salamander Society eventually did this t.v. item and did it very well.

Our hobby has been brought into disgrace! ;-) But on the other hand I think the thief probably didn't even know the difference between a lizard and a salamander...like all the people he robbed as they should have known that a salamander would never go into the dry and warm houses we have but would stay outside once escaped!

 

[marie-sophie]

Well, I did the same one day : I visited all the houses of my neighbours (with a towel !), because my rabbit (who lives in total freedom) escaped from the garden... I finally found him 5 houses further. But I have to say that the people were really disturbed when I rang to their door and said "I lost my rabbit, maybe it's in your house ?"...

 

[sergé]

Rabbits don't do the trick as people are not scared of them! And perhaps even people think of free food for christmas if you say you lost a rabbit...

 

[marie-sophie]

Well, the problem is I didn't want... my rabbit scared !! As this time I lived in France in a village with a lot of hunters and it was the hunting season... Fortunately, my rabbit went into a house and didn't continue to run happily on the road...