Man sentenced for stealing lobsters for drug habit
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania man could spend up to 25 years in prison for stealing lobsters he planned to sell to support his drug habit.
Authorities say 47-year-old Charles Shumanis III repeatedly stole lobsters and meat from Allentown-area supermarkets, including a botched March 1 theft that included a parking lot car-jacking.
Police say Shumanis stole meat and lobsters on two other occasions before he was confronted when he walked out of the store with $350 in lobsters.
A Lehigh County judge on Monday recommended Shumanis serve time at a state prison able to help him deal with his drug and alcohol problems.
Shumanis pleaded guilty in September to charges including retail theft and robbery of a motor vehicle.
Authorities say 47-year-old Charles Shumanis III repeatedly stole lobsters and meat from Allentown-area supermarkets, including a botched March 1 theft that included a parking lot car-jacking.
Police say Shumanis stole meat and lobsters on two other occasions before he was confronted when he walked out of the store with $350 in lobsters.
A Lehigh County judge on Monday recommended Shumanis serve time at a state prison able to help him deal with his drug and alcohol problems.
Shumanis pleaded guilty in September to charges including retail theft and robbery of a motor vehicle.
Just when you think you've heard it all someone has to go steal lobsters to support a drug habit.
Stealing lobsters? When lobsters are at their lowest prices in recent memory? That just sounds silly.
I doubt he will get 25 years. More like 6 months.
I'd rather steal drugs to support my lobster habit. I must not be very good at it, though. I don't have any lobsters OR drugs.
Lobsters for clams?
LOL
I think the hefty sentense is from the car jacking plus the thefts lumped (seafood pun) together in one shell.
If they're gonna give him 25 years for that, then Pennsylvania clearly has a hell of a better justice system than we do!
@Zoso Washington could take a cue from Pennsylvania's judicial system. A possible 25 years for stealing lobsters when that POS child molester pilot only got 10 years for his crimes.
 @Tattooed_Angel Exactly!
 @Zoso Interesting that I am reading this today.  I volunteered yesterday with a theft prevention manager at a local chain and he answered a lot of my questions, and told me how they can take various charges from different retailers and lump them into a heftier charge overall (eventually).  Maybe that's what happened here, but you are right - at 25 years, they really punish their criminals!
The heck with the drug habit, I would have been eating the heck out of them myself.