Crime Doesn't Pay (II)

Someone finds or otherwise acquires a lost T-Mobile Sidekick phone, and uses its photo-taking and instant messaging properties. However, since those data are stored on the T-Mobile server, the phone's owner has the picture and AIM screen name of the person in possession of the phone. He asks for it to be returned. She says no. Thus begins the two-week odyssey of the Stolen Sidekick.

It quickly turned from documentation of attempts to get the phone back to an incredible Internet meme, with millions of hits on the Web page and an active forum. Most amusing are the Photoshopped pictures created by fans.

It ends with an arrest for misdimeanor possession of stolen property, probably the only instance of such crime covered with an article in the New York Times.