Police call for stolen underwear reports
PORTSMOUTH, England, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Police in the British city of Portsmouth are asking any women who have had their underwear stolen recently to contact authorities immediately.
The unusual request comes after Portsmouth police arrested a 40-year-old man who allegedly has been stealing underwear from area wash lines, Sky News reported.
"Police would like to hear from any women in the Portsmouth area who have recently had any clothing stolen from their washing lines or in similar circumstances," a police spokeswoman said.
The man, who is out on bail until April 26, was recently stopped by police and was found to be carrying a large number of women's underwear and other clothing.
Would-be groom jailed for swallowing ring
DORCHESTER, England, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A would-be groom is in jail for 12 weeks for allegedly trying to get a free weeding ring for his future bride by swallowing it in a British jewelry store.
While visiting a jewelry store in Dorchester, England, Simon Hopper allegedly swallowed the ring, worth nearly $3,500, and was arrested for attempted theft, Sky News reported.
Hopper had been looking at rings with jeweler Fred Burgess, when he allegedly swallowed the ring while the other man's back was turned.
When Burgess asked where the ring had gone, Hopper responded by claiming he had already returned it to him.
Suspicious, Burgess contacted the police and only discovered the ring when one of the responding officers used a metal detector to search Hopper.
Burgess said the crime was one thing, but waiting the next few days for it to return to him naturally was another matter.
"He managed to hold on for four days but then the inevitable happened and I got the ring back," he told Sky News. "It's had several good cleans. I'm not sure I'll be revealing its background to the future buyer."
Criminal chooses wrong home to burgle
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A convicted criminal allegedly tried to scam his way into the home of a top New York police union official -- a decision that landed him in jail.
Ex-con Anthony Genovese allegedly tried to enter the home of Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch, the New York Daily News reported.
Genovese's alleged attempt to enter Lynch's home was foiled by the union official's dog and his wife, Cathy, who contacted her husband to let him know someone was stealing their Volvo.
Police arrested Genovese and Laurie Kernahan, whose appearance was similar to that of Lynch's wife, and took the suspects in for questioning.
That's when Lynch got his chance to ask Genovese why he had chosen his house to rob.
"Before the cops from the 111th Precinct pulled him out of the car, I asked him why he had gone to that particular house," Lynch told the Daily News. "He told me, 'The woman with the dog, I know her husband.' He didn't before -- but he does now."
Honorary snack foods mark Ali's birthday
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A new brand of snack foods named after iconic U.S. boxer Muhammad Ali hit the marketplace to help celebrate his 65th birthday.
The snacks -- with flavors such as "Fruit Fight" and "Slammin' Salsa" -- were launched at five U.S. college campuses, MediaPost Marketing Daily reported.
The brand is being marketed as part of Ali's recent sale of his trademark image for $50 million. The snacks are being marketed around the outspoken boxer's image and trademark sayings.
Images.com President Paul Arbor said the snacks from -- Mars Inc. and a company named G.O.A.T., short for greatest of all time -- would likely prove profitable.
"It's always a risk to use celebrities because you don't know what they might do," Arbor said. "In Muhammad Ali's case, you can be pretty sure he won't be doing anything embarrassing. Even though college students weren't around at Ali's peak, they still think of him as a world-class athlete."
Future flavors and release locations of the snacks are planned.
