Latest news with #shoetheft
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Wild fox goes on robbing spree
Grand Teton National Park has issued "WANTED" posters warning visitors about a fox, or multiple foxes, that have stolen at least 32 shoes from campers recently. Park rangers are advising visitors to secure their footwear in bear boxes, vehicles, or tents to prevent further thefts by the animal. Despite the park's warnings, some visitors are intentionally leaving their shoes out in hopes of encountering the elusive shoe-stealing fox. Park officials are concerned that the fox's increasing habituation to humans could lead to negative outcomes for the animal, including potential relocation or euthanasia. Visitors are urged to report any shoe thefts to rangers and maintain a safe distance from all wildlife, including foxes, to ensure both human and animal safety.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Sly as a... National park rangers blame sneaky fox for theft of 32 pairs of shoes
"WANTED" posters have been hung up in Grand Teton National Park to warn visitors that they may be visited by a sneaky thief if they aren't careful. A shoe-stealing fox has snatched at least 32 shoes from campers and other visitors to the Wyoming national park in the last several weeks. The thefts prompted park rangers to hang "WANTED" posters warning campers about the fox — whose aliases include "Sneaker Snatcher," "The Midnight Mismatcher' and "Swiper the Fox" — and advising them on how best protect their footwear. Campers should keep their shoes in a secure location — like a bear box, inside their vehicles, or at very least inside their tents — to avoid losing them to the fox. Officials told Backpack magazine they aren't entirely sure if it's one fox or a group of foxes stealing the shoes, but in either case, they want the thefts to stop. Unfortunately, the park's warning seems to have backfired. According to a post on the park's Instagram account, the warnings apparently only encouraged the visitors to leave out their shoes in hopes of catching a glimpse of the larcenous fox and its potential accomplices. 'What does the fox do with the shoes? We still don't know,' the park said in a social media post. 'Maybe it's a toy. Maybe it's a nesting material collection. Maybe it's fashion.' Emily Davis, a spokesperson for Grand Teton National Park, told Backpacker that the shoe heists are quite real, and the park's response — though lighthearted in tone — is to educate guests, not encourage interaction with the foxes. 'We were trying to educate our visitors in a fun way about this fox and not to habituate it,' Davis told the magazine. Park officials aren't sure why the fox or foxes keep targeting shoes. It could be that they are attracted to the salty sweat left in them after a day of hiking. But foxes are also generally mischievous and this one may simply just enjoy playing with shoes. Whatever the reason, the thefts mean that a fox or foxes are venturing closer to humans and doing so regularly. When wild animals become too comfortable around humans, it can lead to unfortunate outcomes for both. In general, the park service asks visitors to always stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards away from other animals, such as foxes. 'The NPS used humor to share the story of the sly shoe stealer, but they also pointed out that it's a problem for the fox to get acclimated to humans because it may need to be relocated or, in the worst-case scenario, euthanized,' the NPS wrote in an Instagram caption. Davis said that hikers and campers in the park should store their food, cosmetics and — at least during this latest crimewave — their unworn shoes inside of bear boxes. For those who don't camp, a bear box is a reinforced metal box meant to keep bears out. For visitors who do see a fox shoe theft, the best course of action is to contact a ranger so they can follow up. For visitors who do not see a fox shoe theft, you might want to check your feet, because your shoes may already be gone.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Bizarre': Shoe thief's head-scratching spree
CCTV has captured the bizarre moment a thief steals 53 right shoes from a Brisbane shopping centre. The incident occurred at Kenmore shopping centre about 7.35pm on Monday evening and shows a man with a trolley filled with empty suitcases stop at the closed shoe table, take off the cover and load the exclusively right shoes into the baggage. The man is wearing headphones and appears to gesture to CCTV cameras before simply walking out of the shopping centre. Store owner Tamara Shorrock said corresponding left shoes were securely stored in the back and 'it's just never really occurred to us that someone would actually want to steal a right boot'. 'It's very bizarre. We're still scratching our heads over that one,' she said. 'Clearly, they are not pairs, it's pretty obvious that they're all right feet, but maybe he was in a rush and just thought, 'OK, I'll grab them'. 'Or maybe he has friends that only require the right shoe.' Ms Shorrock discovered the theft when she arrived at work on Tuesday morning. 'I was on the phone to a friend, I was like 'I think we've been robbed'.' 'Just let me check out the back. Checked out the back, checked around the shelves, and they were just gone.' The theft has left Ms Shorrock with an open question on the remaining unsellable left shoes. The stolen items had been discounted to half price, bringing the retail value of the missing stock to $7000. 'That was the sale price, so $14,000 if they weren't on sale,' she said. Despite the loss, Ms Shorrock is hopeful the thief will return the shoes in a similarly bizarre fashion. 'I'm just holding on there with dear hope. I'm going to turn up to work tomorrow and here are all the boots,' she said. 'Cover yourself up, we don't need to know. 'We have lots of customers wanting boots, we have had a cool change in the weather. It would be nice to be able to sell them.' Police are investigating the incident and encourage anyone who may have seen the man or have relevant information to contact them.
