UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Police: Thief gave workers phone number

CHICAGO, March 25 (UPI) -- Chicago Police said a would-be thief was wounded by a police officer after a muffler shop he attempted to rob lured him back by calling his cell phone.

Police said the 18-year-old suspect attempted to rob Mufflers for Less at gunpoint shortly before 9 a.m. Monday, but a worker told him there was no money in the store and the manager, who is the only one at the store with access to the safe, wasn't in the building, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

Investigators said the too-trusting thief then left his cell phone number with workers and instructed them to call him in for a second robbery attempt once the safe could be opened.

The workers dialed 911 and plainclothes tactical police officers from Grand Central District arrived at the store before workers phoned the thief to make his second robbery attempt.

Once the suspect arrived, an officer identified himself as police and the suspect allegedly pointed his gun at the officer. The officer fired off two shots, striking the suspect once in the leg. The suspect did not fire his gun.

The suspect was treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police: Bandit pre-ordered loot on phone

WINDSOR, Ontario, March 25 (UPI) -- Police in Windsor, Ontario, said they are holding a burglary suspect they allege phoned ahead to a convenience store to demand the loot be bagged and waiting.

Staff Sgt. Al Brown said around 2 a.m. Monday, a clerk at a convenience store received a phone call from a man asking how much cash was in the register, the Windsor Star reported.

"Somebody called up and said put some money in a bag, sit it next to the store and don't call the police," Brown said.

The clerk mostly followed instructions and an unmasked man appeared soon after. Once he took the bag from the sidewalk, he was arrested by officers watching from a distance, Brown said.

He said there have been two similar robberies recently in which the loot was demanded by phone, and the 40-year-old in custody is suspected in those as well, but not charged as yet.

Wine maker told to change bottle sizes

CHICHESTER, England, March 25 (UPI) -- A British vintner says EU officials have threatened to prosecute him unless he stops selling liquor in unapproved bottle sizes.

Jerry Schooler, whose Lurgashall Winery annually sells 400,000 bottles of fruit wines and mead -- including some sales at royal palaces -- said EU trading standards officials threatened to prosecute him under new rules that only allow his wares to be sold in increments of 70 centiliters (1.48 pints), 50 centiliters (1.06 pints) and 35 centiliters (0.74 pints), The Times of London reported Tuesday.

Schooler said it would cost about $60,000 to change to the approved bottle sizes from the traditional 75 centiliter (1.59 pint) and 37.5 centiliter (0.79 pint) bottles his business has used for 24 years.

"It's all a nonsense," he told The Times. "We have been using 75cl and 37.5cl bottles since we started. A trading standards officer would come by once a year to discuss any problems but there have been no difficulties. This year he said the bottles would have to change because of a new directive."

The business owner said he plans to comply with the new regulations.

"We are going to have to change all our bottling, the labels, machinery, boxes and maybe the corks as well and it is going to cost me thousands to do it," he said in The Times' article.

Macy's Frango mints go organic

NEW YORK, March 25 (UPI) -- Macy's Inc. of New York has announced plans to sell an organic line of its popular Frango mint chocolates at 70 of its stores.

Tim Adams, chairman of Macy's Home store, said the new line of mints, which will also be available online, are designed "to keep pace with growing consumer demand for organic products," the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

The company said the organic candies, which are scheduled to go on sale April 22 -- Earth Day -- contain organic milk chocolate, organic cane sugar and organic vanilla among other ingredients. The packaging for the popular treats will also be Earth-friendly: They will come in recycled paperboard boxes with vegetable-based ink.