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America's Dumbest Criminals: Wild & Weird Stories of Fumbling Felons, Clumsy Crooks, and Ridiculous Robbers

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100 crazy stories of America's dumbest criminals.

The crimes you are about to read are true. The names have been changed . . . to protect the ignorant.

Here is the ultimate collection of the most incredibly stupid and painfully dumb attempts at crime ever brought together.

The woman who invalidated her winning $5,000 lottery ticket by altering it to match the $20 prize numberThe accused vending-machine thief who paid his $400 bail entirely in quartersThe streaking robber who thought clothes would make him more identifiableThe convenience store thief who got away with just a hotdog, only to end up in the parking lot choking on the wiener

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1995

41 people are currently reading
213 people want to read

About the author

Daniel Butler

72 books2 followers

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5 stars
73 (23%)
4 stars
96 (30%)
3 stars
102 (32%)
2 stars
36 (11%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Pamela(AllHoney).
2,688 reviews376 followers
June 12, 2018
A collection of true incidents that show how absolutely dumb some people can be. While I didn't actually laugh out loud at some of the stories I did smile and shake my head often. And yes, I did laugh at a bunch of the stories while wondering about the fate of mankind.
Profile Image for Henri Moreaux.
1,001 reviews33 followers
March 31, 2013
This is a very light non-fiction read, perfect for reading a couple of pages at a time in the bathroom as you drop the kids off at the pool or as something light before bed when you're too tired for reading something in depth but not tired enough to sleep.

Overall, there's some funny stories, some stupid stories and some mediocre stories, all in all it's an easy read about the stupidity of some criminals and their ill conceived plans which predictably end in arrest.

So whether your looking to fill in some time whilst you're slaying brown dragons or just looking for a light read this one's a pretty good choice.
Profile Image for Karen.
515 reviews28 followers
November 27, 2011
I really love the tv show so it was no surprise that I loved the book also. A bunch of 1-3pg retellings of what cops have encountered with different 'dumb' criminals....
Profile Image for Glenn Banks.
Author 2 books1 follower
November 6, 2017
just an ok, book hoping to have she hard laughter but just got some light chuckles.
Profile Image for Matthew Harwood.
963 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2022
It is truly amazing what some people think that they can get away with. This book is a bizarre collection of human stupidity at its finest.
Profile Image for Denver Jones.
393 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2023
Need a break from stressors, need a few laughs to brighten your day, need a few cries? This book provides all of that and more! If you need a break, this is the book for you!
Profile Image for Mark0504.
27 reviews
July 4, 2024
Fun reading about idiots. Got a lot of laughs out of this book
Profile Image for Omar Aden.
3 reviews
June 5, 2007


If you are my type of reader, this book is the book you missing fo a long time."America's Dumpest Criminals" is the funneist non-fiction book that i ever read, this book is so halarious that i finished it in four days, and i couldn't stop reading this book each day.this crazy book is about how the police deal with dumpest criminals a life. on daily bases police face with some thing they want every one to know so this book to written to honor them. one story that i really liked in this book is about this man who comes home drunk and notices that his house is ropped, he calls the cops and two police men show up at his big house and he invites them in, the cops notice that this place don't look like it was ropped so they start asking him what he is missing and the answer was shocking, the man said some one stole his big bag of crack coine which was behind his TV.
15 reviews
May 27, 2013
This book is separated into many stories that describe the events police officers experience with some very dumb criminals. From digging underneath a bank and geting busted to stealing something and end up confessing to it by accident, there is no doubt that this book does describe some of the weirdest stories to ever happen to police officers. However, I did not find the book funny. Certain stories were well written and I chuckled at the criminal but most of the time the stories weren't very well told, resulting in a clueless reader. The book is full of stories that simply lack humour. The writing style didn't match the style of book and was too complicated and went on and on. The stories could have been told much better if the writing style was different.
Profile Image for Carsen.
11 reviews
March 17, 2014
The premise of "America's Dumbest Criminals" by Daniel Butler, Alan Ray, and Leland Gregory is to expose just how many dumb criminals there are in the crime world. Being a nonfiction book, the book is not as action-packed or plot-filled as any fiction counterpart, but it has its own quirks to it. The book is separated into many different stories of dumb criminals, but that format sometimes makes the book seem a bit tedious to read. The better parts of the book would be when they recount the many misfortunes of a single person. I like these sections because you can stay with a single character and read about their failed crime attempts. Overall, I think the book is still fairly amusing just reading how dumb these people can be.
1 review2 followers
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October 15, 2010
This is a cool book. Its really funny, and stupid. If you hate reading like me this is a must read. In this book you hear about stupid criminals who really have no idea that there plans are majorly stupid. In one story there is a criminal who went to the trouble of gettting a mask, but then went in and robbed the store in his work uniform that said his name and the place he worked, he was tracked down VERY easily.
Profile Image for Taylor.
27 reviews
April 2, 2010
this book is realy funny.their are lot of dumb people in the world.[tehe:]........... its just funny to me, how people can be stupid. well this bokk is realy hilariuos.SO READ IT!!!!!!!!........................................................................................................................................................................{tehe}
Profile Image for Utena.
778 reviews24 followers
October 1, 2013
How I feel about the stupidity contained within these pages:



But it was a fun read. I really must admit that there are some really stupid criminals out there. Some of them were a bag of french fries short of a happy meal.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
525 reviews12 followers
February 4, 2017
it was very monotonous...reading about the same stupidity over and over again. i admit, i skipped sections, but my time will be better spent on other reading, and i fulfilled another challenge book. ;)
Profile Image for NayDoubleU.
979 reviews31 followers
August 19, 2021
Great to waster

This is a great easy funny way to paste time. Some of these stories are so outrageous and unbelievable. Had me wondering how an officer in these position can keep a straight face. Worth the read and laugh
Profile Image for Lela.
243 reviews23 followers
June 18, 2013
Such a funny book! It's hilarious what criminals do...that is the not so smart criminals... hahahaha
Profile Image for Anna.
9 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2009
ppl can be so dumb! too funny, was hard to put down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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