Facebook post leads to arrest

Dubbed the “Where’s Waldo Bandit,” Ryan Homsley was arrested in September, 2010 in Oregon for a recent bank robbery.  Dressed in a striped shirt. Ryan walked into a bank and threatened to blow up a box he said had a bomb in it.  He collected the cash and quickly left.

Ryan’s brother, Noah, is a local DJ.  He went on the air and begged Ryan to turn himself in. He explained that Ryan had a drug problem and needed money for his medical bills.

Ryan took responsibility for the bank job by writing on Facebook his admission  “I’m a bank robber now” and included a link to a news story about the hold-up. A few days later he was arrested.

Ryan Homsley

What do you think prompts a person to tell the world they just committed a crime?  Is it attention, bragging, a desire to be caught, or a serious lack of understanding of the Internet?  This is not a new phenomenon of the digital world. It’s just easier now to tell more people about your behavior.  Criminals are well-known to brag about their exploits – in jail, and to friends and lovers.  The Internet is a tremendous resource but keep in mind, it never forgets and is here to stay.  “Think B4 U Click.”