Free Republic

Intruder scared away by Big Mouth Billy Bass Score one for the fish. The crime scene of a break-in at a Rochester's Hooked on Fishing shop showed evidence that a burglar got scared off by a motion-activated, singing bass, authorities said. The novelty bass, which had been hung near the door and would start singing "Take Me to the River" whenever someone entered the shop, was found on the floor after the intruder knocked it down as part of breaking the door to get in, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. But the intruder appeared to have left in...

With his city's police force poised to become the first in California to stop responding to most burglar alarms, Fremont insurance salesman Dennis Wolfe is urging his fellow citizens to arm themselves. "I absolutely believe everybody should own a gun in Fremont now," Wolfe said Thursday. "If the police aren't going to protect us, we have to protect ourselves."

LA police to begin limiting burglar alarm response Wednesday December 31, 2003 LOS ANGELES (AP) Police are to implement a new policy Thursday requiring that burglar alarms be verified before police respond if the home or business has already had at least two false alarms in a year. The plan by Mayor James Hahn also lets the city require customers buy $31 alarm permits and charge for responding to false alarms, starting at $95. The changes approved by the police commission in July was less drastic than a plan advanced a year ago, which would have ended police response...