CRIME

One of Shakespeare's First Folios (not this one) was stolen from a cathedral in England in 1998.

7 Times Literary Works Were Stolen

A number of valuable, important, or rare manuscripts have been swiped from authors or the individuals or institutions tasked with taking care of them. Here’s a sampling of them.

Steve Martin was a curious choice for the role of a mobster.

'My Blue Heaven,' Steve Martin's Comedic, Spiritual Sequel to 'Goodfellas'

In 1990, two movies based on the life of mobster Henry Hill hit theaters. 'Goodfellas' had Martin Scorsese. 'My Blue Heaven' had Steve Martin.

10 Famous Works of Art That Were Attacked

The 2022 vandalization of the 'Mona Lisa' was just the latest incident where famous art was attacked.

9 Fascinating Facts About Delia Owens's 'Where the Crawdads Sing'

Delia Owens's 'Where the Crawdads Sing' is a bildungsroman, a survivalist thriller, a love story, a whodunit, and a meditation on nature all rolled into one.

Common Misconceptions About Forensic Science

Do you put too much stock into anything labeled ‘forensic evidence’? You might be a victim of the CSI effect.

The 25 Safest Cities to Live in the U.S.

If you want to slash your chances of getting murdered or robbed, head to Naples, Florida.

Fast Feud: When Colonel Sanders Shot a Rival Gas Station Owner

The future founder of KFC didn’t start the shootout, but he did finish it.

8 Fascinating Facts About New York City's Hotel Chelsea

Since its original opening in 1884, the Hotel Chelsea has made headlines for its celebrity residents, bizarre deaths, purported paranormal activity, and beyond.

Inside the FBI's Once-Classified Files on 10 Famous Authors

Find out more about the FBI's formerly classified documents on Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin, and other famed authors.

Faye Dunaway as notorious gangster Bonnie Parker and Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow in 'Bonnie & Clyde' (1967)

10 Notorious Female Gangsters

Though organized crime tends to be a boys' club, there have been a slate of deadly women who have broken into its ranks.

Did the Mob Really Make 'The Godfather' Producers Remove the Word 'Mafia' From the Script?

The most famous film about the mafia was made with the help of the mafia—but they had demands.

James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and John Cazale in 'The Godfather' (1972).

When the Mob Protested ‘The Godfather’

Before filming on 'The Godfather' began, men with ties to organized crime made it clear that Paramount would need to meet certain demands—or else.

5 of History's Most Notorious Unsolved Ax Murders

These brutal crimes continue to confound reason and haunt the imagination.

(Left to right) Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Mark Koenig, and Joe Duga of the 1927 New York Yankees.

The True Crime Origins of the Baseball Phrase ‘Murderers’ Row’

The first Murderers’ Row wasn’t the 1927 New York Yankees. It was a literal row of murderers.

The 25 Safest Countries in the World

Whether you're planning to live abroad or travel internationally, these are the countries where you'll find the most safety and stability.

A 72-Year-Old Woman Stole a Jacket From Paris’s Musée Picasso and Had It Tailored—Not Realizing It Was Artwork

The 72-year-old museum visitor claimed she had no idea the jacket was part of an art installation.

Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent in 'The Duke.'

The Stranger-Than-Fiction Art Heist That Inspired ‘The Duke’

In 1965, Kempton Bunton pleaded “not guilty” to stealing a Goya from London’s National Gallery. He then told everyone exactly how and why he took it.

Why Norwegians Love to Read Crime Novels Called 'Påskekrims' During Easter

Instead of cheery tales of flowers and bunnies, Norwegians prefer bloody murder mysteries on Easter.

A Very Irish Scandal: The Gay Rumors Behind the Unsolved Irish Crown Jewels Heist of 1907

The stolen jewels have never been found, and their disappearance remains one of Ireland’s most tantalizing mysteries.

Stephanie St. Clair ran Harlem's numbers game for years.

Stephanie St. Clair, Harlem's Queen of the Underworld

In early 20th-century Harlem, gambling belonged to “Madame Queen.”

Don't make your username "username" either.

The 20 Most Commonly Leaked Passwords on the Dark Web

Sorry, hopeless romantics: “Iloveyou” is one of the most basic—and least secure—passwords you could possibly choose.

Leaves of the Conophytum bilobum succulent.

Your Plant Addiction Is Fueling a Succulent Poaching Crisis

Rare succulents native to California and South Africa are being poached to meet soaring demand from houseplant collectors.

Alvin Karpis shows the FBI his altered fingerprints in 1936.

When the Mob Turned to Plastic Surgeons to Erase Their Fingerprints

In the 1930s, gangsters like John Dillinger thought they could erase their criminal past by erasing their prints. It wouldn't be so easy.

Valentine’s Day Is a Time for Romance—And for Online Scammers to Steal Your Money, FTC Warns

Roses are red, violets are blue. The FTC thinks your online valentine could actually be trying to scam you.

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