[L8 Braker]

http://www.tampabaylive.com/stories/2006/05/060502ebay.shtml

CLEARWATER - Clearwater police have busted up an international chopshop ring, and it was the toes that gave it away.

The suspect tattooed the words "white trash" on his toes, and made the mistake of including his foot in a picture he posted when selling stolen bike parts on Ebay.

Clearwater resident Derrick Lumbard saw someone swipe his motorcycle when he walked outside his apartment building.

Derrick contacted the police and then did a little investigative work on his own.

Besides going to bike shows looking for his prized possession, he checked Ebay.

It was there he saw his bike being sold, piece by piece.

Included in one of the images was a foot, with the word "trash" tattooed across the toes.

He acted like an interested buyer and told the seller he was heading to Orlando for vacation and wanted to drive over and pick up the parts to save on shipping.

He got the seller's name and address, and Clearwater police moved in for the arrest.

Sgt. Dirk Curls of the Clearwater P.D. says, "In searching for suspects in this we came across this particular defendant now, and we saw that he had a tattoo on his toes stating "white trash." These correspond to the letters we saw on the photos."

Suspect Richard Costello and two others are now in the Pinellas county jail.

Derrick also got his bike back, although it was in pieces.

Authorities say parts from this chop shop have been shipped as far away as Belgium and the Netherlands.

 

[Sinkoumn]

That's crazy, but great that they busted that F'n guy isson :upyours . One less person to steal a bike and part it out. :banana

 

[wolfman]

He should be able to keep the toes as a trophy!!!

 

[Spike]

Maybe my bike was one of the victims. Maybe not though lol

 

[Half-fast Rider]

Y'know, I believe in a good, old fashioned, eye-for-eye, tooth-for-tooth sort of penalty. Can't the court order that the thieving bastard be parted out?

A healthy kidney or lung could be worth enough to buy new bikes for a few of his victims.

 

[gambrjl]

Damn.. My harley was stolen 6 weeks ago. I firmly believe that's what happened to it . Glad someone got busted

 

[crx81]

Glad to see they got nailed! :dblthumb
Here's Richard "White Trash" Costello's mug shot from Pinellas County Jail...
I'm kinda disapointed that he's only got a $10,000 bond. :rolleyes

 

[Black Ice]

Glad to see they got nailed! :dblthumb
Here's Richard "White Trash" Costello's mug shot from Pinellas County Jail...
I'm kinda disapointed that he's only got a $10,000 bond. :rolleyes

I'm not, and I hope he bonds out. Now that his name, description and picture's out on the net, I'm thinking he might be safer in lockup, if you catch my drift. :devil

 

[JaiBird]

I'm not, and I hope he bonds out. Now that his name, description and picture's out on the net, I'm thinking he might be safer in lockup, if you catch my drift. :devil

The net can be a good or bad place once you're named and ID'd. Riders should really pay attention to his photo, because He most likely will do the same thing over again, and this time move to another location or state, and be even harder to catch the next time. The photo was luck, and now he's learnt a new tactic.

 

[ZXRon]

At least he's honest in one respect .. 'white trash'. Funny how it was that honesty that gave him away. Reminds me of the whole "taking a picture of your reflective tea kettle while playing nature boy'" thing that went around some time ago ... you never know what a picture might give away.

Glad to see the guy got picked up, but that $10,000 bond is a drop in the bucket for people who deal in stolen property like this. You can almost guarantee he'll be back at it as soon as he can get set up again ... and even if not, there will be many more to take over where he left off due to our 'slap your wrist' ways of handling punishment. UGH.