POLICE: THIEF GETS STUCK IN MUD AFTER BURGLARY: FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Police say a man who robbed a Foxborough home had to call a tow truck after getting stuck in the mud while making his getaway.
Chief Edward O'Leary says a man broke into the home on Tuesday, and loaded up his pickup truck with two television sets, a camcorder, camera, jewelry, and other items.
As he made his escape, he backed off the driveway and onto the ground softened by rain.
He got stuck.
He used rock salt, wood and even a throw rug under his tires to get traction without success before finally calling for a tow.
O'Leary tells The Sun Chronicle the suspicious tow truck driver alerted police, who tracked the truck to a Taunton man who had just been released from prison. Police are still looking for him.
MAN FINDS REPTILE NEAR SEWER, OFFERS GATOR AID: PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia man has offered a little gator aid — calling animal control authorities to help rescue a juvenile alligator he found near a sewer grate on his street.
Joe Malseed saw the 18-inch reptile this week in the city's Fishtown neighborhood and snapped its photo before calling for help. He says the alligator was in a puddle and appeared to be emerging from a nearby sewer. He says it was docile until a man tried to get a closer look and it hissed.
Police took the reptile to the city's Animal Care & Control Team. The reptile has been named Allie-Gator.
The animal control team said Wednesday despite the name it hasn't determined the alligator's gender because, "Who's going to do that job?"
Allie-Gator will remain with the team until a permanent home is found.
POLICE: PA. PROSTITUTION SUSPECT SANG 'RUDOLPH: CAMBRIDGE, Pa. (AP) — Police say a prostitution suspect asked an undercover officer to sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" with her before other police swooped in to arrest her.
The Beaver County Times reports Thursday that 45-year-old Marcia Settles asked the Ambridge officer to sing the carol during an odd verbal exchange just before her arrest June 4.
Ambridge Sgt. Glen Sovich contends he and Settles agreed on a price for a sex act but before other officers arrived she asked him, "Are you the police?" Sovich denied it and asked Settles the same thing, prompting her to tell him she worked for the CIA and planned to kill him. Then she asked him to sing the song.
Settles' public defender could not immediately be reached for comment. She's awaiting trial after waiving a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
NO JOKE: JESTER WANTED AT AUSTRIAN HOTEL: VIENNA (AP) — Wanted: A jester. Wallflowers need not apply.
It's no joke. An Austrian hotel is advertising for a modern-day court fool, who is communicative, extroverted, musical, creative and imaginative.
Applicants are asked to bring — and play — their musical instrument during the job interview. Also welcome: creative costumes. The successful candidate will earn 1,400 euros — around $1,900 — a month.
Hotel director Melanie Franke says those interested should not think they're on a fool's errand in applying. She says the idea is to treat guests like royalty, noting that "jesters were a luxury that royal families indulged themselves in."
The hotel in Austria's Styria province was designed by famed Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Franke says the jester concept fits its hotel's colorful appearance.
