The Barefoot Bandit has been on such a great adventure that Hollywood has purchased the movie rights to his story. His Facebook page has more fans than many rock stars and his mother is proud of him. This 19 year old criminal has been made a hero, a celebrity and a role model, according to CNN.
See the Barefoot Bandit’s Captured video here: Barefoot Bandit
Colton Harris-Moore, The Barefoot Bandit, has a mother who is proud of her son for learning how to fly a plane all on his own. She did however make a statement to the press that she wanted her son to give himself up. He has been on the run since 2008 when he escaped from a juvenile halfway house in Washington State. He was serving his time there for three counts of burglary.
The Barefoot Bandit was a nickname given to the teen because he broke into homes while in his bare feet. He is a brazen bandit who has entered homes, eaten dinner, showered and changed his clothes while the home owners were out. At one point a family came home to find him after he had made himself at home by eating, bathing and cutting his hair, but he managed to get away again.
The Barefoot Bandit’s crimes progressed in severity as he spent more time on the run. He went from home burglaries to car theft and then he started to steal planes. This young man did not have a pilot’s license and just winged it on his own. This is not an easy feat. According to the website for License Requirements, to get a private pilot’s license in the State of Connecticut a potential pilot must fulfill these requirements
- 40 Hours Total
- 20 Hours Dual Instruction
- 10 Hours Solo
- 3 Hours Instrument
- 3 Hours Night
- 5 Hours Solo Cross Country
The requirements for a private pilot license are just as strict in most states. He did it all the first time he got into the cockpit. No practice for this teen, his first flight was done without any previous experience.
The Barefoot Bandit just got into the planes, navigated them onto the runway and flew away. He was finally caught in the Bahama’s today after a plane he had stolen from Monroe County Airport in Bloomington, Indiana was tracked to the Bahama’s by the emergency beacon signal the plane gave off.
This sweet looking kid, who started his home burglary spree in Oregon and Washington alluded the authorities for almost three years. He started working his way east and is suspected of burglarized homes in South Dakota and Nebraska. He is also wanted in several car thefts.
The Barefoot Bandit will go down in history with the likes of D.B. Cooper, the man who parachuted out of a 727 with ransom money in 1971, as reported on the US News website. Although Cooper was never heard from after his dangerous get away jump, the country made him a hero. Movies were made, books were written and even restaurants were opened idolizing his name.
The Barefoot Bandit criminal spree may be over, but his story has just begun. Once Hollywood starts scripting the movie, we will hear all about how this teen criminal got his start in crime at such a young age. He has been made an idol and even his mom is proud of her son, but the law will give him the consequences he deserves.
References: CNN, US News, Connecticut Pilot License Requirements
