Thieves leave their severed fingers at crime scenes

Leaving evidence behind at the scene of a crime is just sloppy, particularly when it contains DNA. In a remarkable coincidence two thieves in two different continents both left a severed fingertip behind in break-ins this weekend.

The Local reported that a cack-handed criminal left the tip of his finger, complete with fingernail, lying around at the scene of a break-in at the Kik store in Wanne-Eickel, Germany, on Saturday night. Police spokesman Volker police spokesman Volker Schütte said that at least two people were involved in the break-in and attempted to steal the safe. However one of the robbers managed to lose his finger while trying to lift the safe through a small window. Schütte said the police are waiting for the results of DNA tests, but regretted that hospital confidentially clauses would prevent hospital staff from tipping off police if the criminal sought medical attention for his missing fingertip. Another criminal was equally careless with his fingertip in Albuquerque, N.M. this weekend. Huffington Post reported that police said a robbery suspect left behind his severed fingertip, but unfortunately there wasn't enough of it to match for fingerprints. They will conduct blood tests on the digit though. In a previous case in Hamburg, Germany, a burglar was caught when he left his severed finger at the crime scene. According to Life on the Row police were able to identify criminal Michael Baumgartner by matching the finger he left lying around at the crime scene with fingerprints held on file.