Man Wants Cash For Finding Soldier's Camera

NBC Philadelphia ^

[esryle]

PHILADELPHIA -- A New Jersey soldier, who is being sent back to Afghanistan for a second tour of duty next week, lost his digital camera at last weekend's Eagles game.

The memory card in the camera had many pictures of the holidays with Spc. Elwood Wrigley's friends and family that he said were very precious to him.

Wednesday night, someone e-mailed NBC 10 to say they found the camera and offered it back, but at a price.

A man identifying himself as Michael Crook said he'd return the holiday photos for $1,000.

Part of the e-mail read: "I would be willing to ensure Mr. Wrigley gets his camera back for a fee. I would say $1,000 would cover it considering his memory stick is so precious to him. It sure looks like this family had a good Christmas."

Crook e-mailed some of the pictures to NBC 10 to see if they were Wrigley's pictures.

NBC 10's Vince DiMentri showed the pictures to Wrigley, who said they are not his photos.

Wrigley was shocked that someone would do this.

"That's disgusting. I didn't think anybody on the planet was like that," said Wrigley.

Wrigley's aunt agrees with her nephew. "I can't believe someone would do that. It's horrible. It's just horrible."

During a phone interview with NBC 10, Crook offered no apologies.

"I don't really do things out of kindness. It's a business world and I know it seems harsh but, you know, it is all about the money" Crook said.

Crook said he is from south Jersey and was with friends at the Eagles-Bengals game when he found the camera.

NBC 10 is still not sure whether this is a hoax or if Crook really has Wrigley's camera.

[esryle]

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[Cultural Jihad]

It's a business world and I know it seems harsh but, you know, it is all about the money" Crook said.

Funny, but that's what the judge says whenever he fines people for extortion.

[AQGeiger]

What an appropriate surname for such a deplorable human being.

[bikepacker67]

Well... he's aptly named.

[MEG33]

I think I cannot be shocked...and then once again I am.

[NavyCaptain]

Send that guy to Baghdad immediately and let him guard a polling place.

[exnavychick]

Took the words right out of my mouth. Let me add this one...

Scumbag.

[Vermonter]

Michael Crook better keep a low profile. I'm sure there are those who may want to discuss his offer with him in a (ahem) physical manner

Maybe he can hang out with Bob Wallace. He wants to be invisible!

[G32]

Sounds like a hoax.

[nuffsenuff]

It's gotta be a fake name.

Or that guy has a death wish.

[grace522]

As if we Eagles fans don't have a bad enough reputation! This guy is a Jackass and, if identified at a game, will be crushed with snowballs.....not unlike Santa Clause a few years back.....but this guy really deserves it.

[kingu]

It would be most helpful if the District Attorney gained the phone records for the television station and sought out the man who stole someone's camera.

[Lockbar]

Crook sounds like a Dem-o-rat.

[beef]

"Sheesh, what an a$$h01e."

No kidding. Sounds kind of like some DUer making a twisted point about our economic system.

[Cultural Jihad]

Sheesh, what an a$$h01e.

Maybe so, but at least he is following the very high principles of me-ocratic libertarianism instead of whining like some careless camera-owner for other people's charity and forgiveness.

[Petronski]

I would never tar a team's entire fanbase because of one ass.

[pipecorp]

Yeah , that algore really is an... oh, you're talking about crook, my bad.