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Indiana Jones Gets Robbed 227

Posted by CmdrTaco from the no-time-for-love-doctor-jones dept.
HotChk101 writes "Over 2000 production stills, plenty of sensitive paperwork including a complete production budget breakdown, possibly the script from Indiana Jones 4 and multiple computers were stolen from Steven Spielberg's Universal Studio office. The thief started contacting multiple entertainment websites including TMZ.com and offering the stolen goods for a sum of $2000.00."
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Indiana Jones Gets Robbed More

Indiana Jones Gets Robbed

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  • New Movie Title (Score:5, Funny)

    by badenglishihave ( 944178 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:16AM (#20837649) Homepage
    "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of Indiana Jones"
  • Indiana Jones and the Search for Spielburg's Stuff
    • I'm just glad they didn't get the Ark. That would have been bad news for everyone involved.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by flitty ( 981864 )
      Obligatory:

      "I'm holding this ransom, for two, THOUSAND, dollars!"
      "actually sir, $2,000 by today's standards isn't that much..."
      "ok, two, THOUSAND.... Million, dollars!"
  • Hell, for just $2k I'd buy the stuff, take a peek, and return it. :)

  • $2000? (Score:5, Funny)

    by xmarkd400x ( 1120317 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:18AM (#20837669)
    Who is this guy, Dr. Evil?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Aladrin ( 926209 )
      Exactly. I initially missed the dot and thought '$200,000... Nice.' ... Then I did that double-take thing (yeah, my head actually snapped back) and '$2000! WTF!' ...
      • $2000 will buy a lot of cheap beer, cigs, and scratch tickets for your garden variety crook. Maybe the guy(s) thought that $2000 was the magic number that the victims would consider low enough to pay just to get it over with and without bothering to call the cops on them.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ajs ( 35943 )
      $2000 is probably fair. The problem is that, much as many people would want this information, no legitimate news outlet is going to pay for what is known to be stolen goods, so they have to go to the Web sites and tabloids that are hungry enough to break the law. They, in turn, can't afford to pay much.

      If they had stolen a couple of things quietly, then they could have gotten more money, but this was clearly an amateur who just didn't realize that they were screwing themselves by taking too much, too noisil

      • Re:$2000? (Score:5, Informative)

        by drakaan ( 688386 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:53AM (#20838321) Homepage Journal

        ...I hope no one buys the stuff and they get caught. This kind of theft is certainly less harmful than stealing someone's life savings, but it's still criminal, and I'd still like to see justice done.

        I'm reminded of a meme that's missing from the currently active slashdot poll, namely "RTFA".

        From the article:

        ...We have been told that the thief was apprehended by LAPD and the FBI with the help of a member of the online press that had been offered the stolen property. Sources tell us that an undercover sting operation was set in motion late last night with the help of the unnamed member of the online press...

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by u-bend ( 1095729 )
          Exactly. I will add however that that tiny little detail might have merited mention in the summary. It's slightly misleading as it is.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by kd5ujz ( 640580 )
          OJ is now working for the LAPD and FBI.

        • Re:$2000? (Score:5, Interesting)

          by ajs ( 35943 ) <[ajs] [at] [ajs.com]> on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @02:52PM (#20842343) Homepage Journal

          I'm reminded of a meme that's missing from the currently active slashdot poll, namely "RTFA"
          No.

          I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but I read Slashdot because I don't have time to read a dozen articles about nonsense. I instead read a quick summary and fire off a comment if it strikes me as worth it. I've done so for many years, and will continue to do so.

          If article summaries can't be written clearly enough to convey the basics accurately, then I'll have a misleading idea about what's in the article, and may post less useful comments. There's not much I can do about that without adding a 25th hour to the day.

          • Wow. (Score:3, Insightful)

            by Valdrax ( 32670 )
            I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but I read Slashdot because I don't have time to read a dozen articles about nonsense. I instead read a quick summary and fire off a comment if it strikes me as worth it. I've done so for many years, and will continue to do so.

            You mean you're actually proud enough of spouting your mouth off in ignorance to defend it as the superior option to either (a) shutting up or (b) doing a little reading? Give this man a management position! He's obviously more important that the

    • Re:$2000? (Score:5, Funny)

      by p3d0 ( 42270 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @11:16AM (#20838719)
      Must be Canadian dollars. USD$2000 isn't very much.

  • $2000?!?!? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Billosaur ( 927319 ) * <wgrother AT optonline DOT net> on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:20AM (#20837711) Journal

    One word: moron

    One more word: lawsuit

    Don't be surprised when they find this guy lying dead in his bed in his apartment, having been killed by whip-wielding maniac...

    • Re:$2000?!?!? (Score:5, Informative)

      by phantomfive ( 622387 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:24AM (#20837809) Journal
      They caught him already. He tried to sell the stuff to a member of the press, who reported it to the police, and a sting operation was carried out. Read the article. :)

      Apparently one TV station actually did buy it and was about to reveal what they had found until Paramount's lawyers stepped in. Which although normally I'm rather opposed to lawyers, in this case I'm rather ambivalent about it; who wants to have the show spoiled for them anyway?

    • Don't be surprised when they find this guy lying dead in his bed in his apartment, having been killed by whip-wielding maniac...
      Namely, his wife, for leaving two zeros off the asking price.

  • Dr. Jones... (Score:5, Funny)

    by PlatyPaul ( 690601 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:20AM (#20837715) Homepage Journal
    Again we see that there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away.


    (source [imdb.com])
  • Hell, I'll give him $2500. How can someone be capable of evading security, not only getting onto the lot, but getting the stuff off, and be so stupid to only ask for such a paltry sum for his loot? And then he tries to sell it to news people, who, surprise, contact the studio to say, "WTF, mate?". You have to move that kind of thing on the down low, not sell it to some internet news site. After all of that he goes and hangs out at The Standard? The Standard? Fer fuxake, why didn't he just walk down Hol

  • Cue Dr. Evil. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Medievalist ( 16032 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:21AM (#20837729)
    "and I want... TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS!"

    "Uh, really? OK, sure."
  • $2000? No wonder they haven't had any takers. No one will believe that they can buy the script to IJ4 for such a low amount.

  • can't resist (Score:5, Funny)

    by Leemeng ( 970560 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:22AM (#20837769)
    "So once again, Jones, what was briefly yours is now mine."
  • There was already a South Park episode about this: Season 6, "Free Hat". So ... maybe the thief just stole it keep Spielberg from digitally removing the politically incorrect stuff? :-P
    • Sorry to burst your bubble, but that was the original master tape of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", not the upcoming final film.

      It's interesting to note that it may have actually had an effect [wikipedia.org] on real-world plans for modifications....
  • ...misplaced his decimal point.

  • Sounds good to me. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by aadvancedGIR ( 959466 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:28AM (#20837875)
    I'm ready to pay that price to make sure there is no jarjar or ewok-like caracter in the film, and if needed, the double to make sure Lucas is no longer involved in any artistic part of the production.

  • Marketing ploy? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by tonyreadsnews ( 1134939 )
    We'll see. If the charges are dropped, then I say it was a marketing ploy. If not, well, then just a really stupid thief.

  • talk about inept security... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by PJ1216 ( 1063738 ) * on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:28AM (#20837891)

    multiple computers
    The thief (singular) walked away with multiple computers? That requires multiple trips into the office. The security is bad no matter how you look at it. Either
    A) One guy makes multiple trips back and forth to carry all this stuff... unless he's superman and can carry multiple computers.
    B) A group of guys gets past security. One guy getting past I can see, but an entire group getting past should make it easier to catch them.

    Has anyone given any thought to this being a publicity stunt? I mean, the information has yet to be leaked and for $2000, I would bet plenty of people would have found a way to get into contact with this guy and purchase it for themselves.

    Something just seems unbelievable here.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by filterban ( 916724 )
      It doesn't necessarily mean multiple trips. It would be pretty easy to carry five or six laptops at once.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      multiple computers

      The thief (singular) walked away with multiple computers? That requires multiple trips into the office. The security is bad no matter how you look at it. Either
      A) One guy makes multiple trips back and forth to carry all this stuff... unless he's superman and can carry multiple computers.
      B) A group of guys gets past security. One guy getting past I can see, but an entire group getting past should make it easier to catch them.

      I don't see anything that implies they have to be desktop PCs - t

    • I mean, the information has yet to be leaked and for $2000, I would bet plenty of people would have found a way to get into contact with this guy and purchase it for themselves.

      Yeah, except that unless they were buying the stuff to give it back to its rightful owner, they'd be guilty of theft by receiving. What would be surprising is if Speilberg or his company don't pay the money. It's probably worth millions to them, so why not pay a couple grand to get it back?

      Something just seems unbelievable here.

      Not really. This kind of criminal activity happens all the time. The only thing notable is that it was Spielberg's office. Otherwise, it's just garden variety idiot criminals trying to fence their stolen loot. Sou

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by BobMcD ( 601576 )
      In my days as a cable monkey and onsite tech I was often dispatched to go pick up hardware from people's offices. It was amazingly easy. Now this was several years ago, but even then I was amazed at how I could walk onto a hospital campus (just one example), into someone's office, and remove a computer. Only about 25% of the time was I even questioned about what I was doing. No uniform, no credentials of any kind, just a nerdy looking guy saying "I am here for so-and-so"...

      I found during this time that
      • I agree, working on campus for the media center I was amazed at how dressed in street clothes I could walk into a classroom nod at a teacher and walk out with several hundred dollars worth of computers/tvs/projectors etc. carry them across campus and never be questioned. Reminds me of saying "You can go anywhere you want if you carry a clipboard and look busy"
    • Obviously it was some kids trying to prevent a remake [wikipedia.org] of the original Indiana Jones movies.

    • Has anyone given any thought to this being a publicity stunt? I mean, the information has yet to be leaked and for $2000, I would bet plenty of people would have found a way to get into contact with this guy and purchase it for themselves.

      Publicity stunt? Shit, I know what I'd do if I was Speilberg: I'd greenlight Transformers 2 and make sure it's even shittier than the original! But if I was Speilberg and still had a soul, I'd write this guy into the script. He'd steal Indy's papers, there would be a huge chase, and Indy would then whip the shit out of him. I'd especially include the part about him trying to sell the collection for such an absurdly lowball price. This thing could easily be blown into an awesomely funny running gag.

      Back dur

    • Most likely explanation: No computers were stolen. Probably nothing but information was stolen.
    • ...so I'm getting a kick...

      No, really, once you're past the front gate, it is absolutely astonishing how little security there is. Unless you're obviously over-the-top out of place (like, say, streaking, maybe), people just leave you alone--and hauling a cart full of equipment back and forth to the parking lot is actually /less/ suspicious in that environment than wandering around with nothing in hand.

      I mean, just imagine what a nightmare a facility like that would be if they stopped and questioned everyone

  • It happened to Coppola, too... (Score:4, Informative)

    by BobMcD ( 601576 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:29AM (#20837913)
    A very similar thing happened to Coppola a few days back:

    http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-coppolascriptburgled,0,3773984.story [zap2it.com]

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by nurhussein ( 864532 )
      This is interesting.

      Spielberg, Lucas and Coppola were known as "the three amigos" right? Could there be a connection?
    • This sounds like a job for the Hardy Boys.... ... okay, not really. They suck.

      Still, it's a very interesting coincidence if that's all it is. Quite the supervillain collector if it isn't.

  • Not surprisingly (Score:5, Funny)

    by Ilan Volow ( 539597 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:33AM (#20837993) Homepage
    Spielberg first realized the script had been stolen after the security system's boulder had crashed through the Universal Studios cafeteria earlier that day.

  • It's not theft... (Score:5, Funny)

    by miskatonic alumnus ( 668722 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @10:40AM (#20838117)
    it's copyright infringement. Oh, darn it. Wrong story.

    • it's copyright infringement. Oh, darn it. Wrong story.
      It's that too! Mark my words: Universal will insisted that the thief pay licensing fees for possessing the Indiana Jones script without reimbursing the artists. That's on top of returning it, and any civil lawsuits/criminal prosecution.
  • What a waste. Had I stolen the script I would have returned it having made several additions and modifications.

    More hearts getting pulled out of chests.
    Nazis have a new catchphrase: "Uh oh, don't tell the fuhrer!" with a saucy grin.
    Cameo appearance by Tomb Raider's Lara Croft.
    Homage to the "Whipmaster" SNL sketch.
    What's better than the Raiders' big round boulder? Two of them. Two different directions.
    Blackjack. Hookers. Ahh, forget the whole thing.

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Andrewkov ( 140579 )
      What's better than the Raiders' big round boulder? Two of them. Two different directions.

      You already mentioned Lara Croft!

  • It was that guy who won "On The Lot," which included an office and job with Spielberg

  • If you've got something worthless... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Loke the Dog ( 1054294 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @11:10AM (#20838627)
    put a high price tag on it, and watch the buyers flock. Try giving kittens away. Its hard, because when people evaluate if they should take one of your kittens, they will think of the problems of owning a cat. Now try selling kittens for 100$ each. Its about as hard as giving them away because the cost will draw attention away from the other problems, but it will also earn you money.

    Same applies here. For 2000$, the big issue for the buyer is that he's buying something illegal that might actually not contain anything really interesting. For 200 000$, the big issue is to get the cash.
  • This robbery comes right after Francis Coppola's data archive was robbed [examiner.com]. "Who's Robbing the Great Directors of Hollywood" sounds like a great premise for a movie. Too bad it'll never be faithful to the original, As Seen on Slashdot.
  • "Once again Dr. Jones, we see that there is nothing that you can possess which I cannot take away."

  • Backup (Score:4, Funny)

    by kalel666 ( 587116 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @11:53AM (#20839339)
    Fortunately, everything was backed up on Francis Ford Coppollas hard drive.

    Oh, shit.
  • I hope he kept backups.. I wonder if he is being asked if he'll leave los angeles because of this.
  • Mola Ram: The computers are mine!
    Indiana Jones: You betrayed Spielberg! Oy, vey, lotta chutzpah that took! You betrayed Spielberg!
    The computers glow red hot and plummet into the gorge. Mola Ram grabs the last one, burns his hand, loses his grip, and plunges after them, only to be eaten by a rancor when he reaches the river below. Cue gratuitous ring explosion, roll credits.

  • I bet it was Nazis. . . (Score:3, Funny)

    by uberjoe ( 726765 ) on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @12:37PM (#20840069)
    I hate those guys.
  • RTFA -- Spielberg doesn't work for Universal Studios.
  • "Throw me the paperwork, I throw you the whip!"

  • So, sorry for not being up to speed on this, but how much crack or meth can you buy for $2,000?

  • So (Score:4, Funny)

    by hcdejong ( 561314 ) <`hobbes' `at' `xmsnet.nl'> on Wednesday October 03, 2007 @03:28PM (#20842905)
    they lost the plot, then?

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