A burglar who stole £25,000 from a Birmingham bank has been apprehended after attempting to escape to his home - which is located across the road from the bank. Police took only minutes to bring 19-year-old Christopher Walker to justice after he attacked a security guard with a stick in order to make off with the box of cash, which was being delivered from a truck. Mr Walker, who had recently lost his job as a grass-cutter, was witnessed by several onlookers running across the road and into his house, where he tried to hide the cash in his neighbour's loft.

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:23:57

Controversial X Factor twins John and Edward Grimes may have gotten on a lot of people's nerves, but it seems that a herd of dairy cows in Dorset are big fans of theirs. Herdsmen Jozef Andrezejk and Tomas Piotr, who operate a farm in Beaminster, have reported that milk yields have increased since they started playing Jedward's version of We Will Rock You to the cattle. The farmers had previously attempted to keep the animals happy with Beethoven music, but it would seem the cows prefer the more unconventional sound of the Irish duo.

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:01:21

A drug dealer operating a cannabis farm in Cheshire has been brought to justice - thanks to the contribution of a 12-year-old public schoolboy in his row boat. The 20-year-old Vietnamese drug seller had fled the scene by jumping through a window after the marijuana farm he was helping to operate out of a flat in Mere was raided by police. He attempted to make his getaway by swimming across a nearby river, but did not count on the presence of youngster Will Abbotts, who offered to row riot police across the waterway to apprehend the criminal.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:26:50

An elderly man from Nepal has been hailed by Guinness World Records as the oldest person ever to conquer Mt Everest. Min Bahadur Sherchan was presented with his official certificate by the organisation after ascending to the top of the 29,035 ft Himalayan peak two years ago at age 76. Previously, 71-year-old Japanese resident Katsusuke Yanagisawa was listed as the oldest man to climb the world's highest peak, prompting Mr Sherchan to make an official appeal.

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:44:42

Irish cleaners have found an unusual outlet for venting their frustrations about Thierry Henry - by vandalising their own vacuum cleaners. The Sun reports that ever since the France striker's handball cost the Republic of Ireland a World Cup place, cleaning staff have been turning on the iconic smiley-faced hoovers. Despite the brand having nothing to do with Thierry Henry, workers are reportedly choosing to erase the Henry name or scrawl over its painted face.

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:55:27

An interior designer in the US has been left red-faced and out of pocket after he accidentally blew his own benefits scam following a TV appearance. LA resident Ronald Hunt had been claiming $150,000 (£91,015) in state benefits on the pretence that he was disabled, in addition to the $400,000 he earns annually from his business, reports the Associated Press. However, the 56-year-old's three-year-long scam came to an end after he made an appearance on a home improvement show for Home and Garden Television.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:50:08

Two teenage burglars in the US have made the police's job significantly easier by recording footage of themselves robbing houses. Officers in Upper Darby, Philadelphia, arrested the 15 and 16-year-old suspects leaving a crime scene after they triggered a burglar alarm. In addition to around $1,000 (£601) worth of stolen goods, the police also recovered a camcorder, on which they found recordings of the two boys robbing a number of properties.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:43:43

A police officer has attempted to dissuade a jailed burglar from his life of crime by telling him he is too ugly to be an effective crook. David Holyoak, who is nicknamed Shrek, has commenced a three-and-a-half year jail sentence after being arrested as part of a gang which stole £6,000 from a Preston bank. However, the unnamed officer has told the thief that his capture was inevitable due to his status as "one of the ugliest robbers in the country".

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:02:24

A team of Antarctic Heritage Trust workers are embarking on a mission in the frozen continent to recover a precious stash of lost whisky. The explorers have been commissioned by drinks company Whyte & Mackay to find a frozen hoard of 100-year-old McKinlay and Co. booze, which was abandoned at Cape Royds by the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Crates were discovered in 2006 beneath a hut in Cape Royds used by Sir Ernest in 1909, but the whisky proved to be too deeply embedded in the ice to recover it.

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:09:49

A library in Arizona is celebrating an unexpected windfall after two overdue books were returned - along with a fine of $1,000 (£598). The Audobon Society books, which were checked out in 1959, made their way back to the Camelback High School in Phoenix along with an anonymous letter and a sizeable money order. According to the note, the borrower had accidentally packed the two books away before moving to another state and had calculated that fines for the two books should now amount to $745.

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:05:47