Idiots caught and charged with stealing TNA Title

[AZUCAR!]

From the "There's no cure for stupid" file, the following was released today from the Ottumwa, IA Police Department:

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On August 20, 2012, the Ottumwa Police Department received a report from TNA Enterprises that their heavyweight wrestling championship belt had been stolen during a show in Ottumwa on August 18th. TNA Enterprises is a national professional wrestling organization based out of Nashville, Tennessee. The belt, valued at $6,000.00, along with a replica valued at $400.00, was taken during TNA’s performance at the Bridgeview Center located at 102 Church Street in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Following an investigation into the theft, 33-year-old Joel Ryan Luke of Ottumwa was arrested on August 29th and charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree in violation of Chapter 714.1. Theft in the 2nd Degree is a Class “Dâ€￾ Felony. Luke was released from the Wapello County Jail after posting $5,000.00 bond.

On August 30th, 39-year-old Forrest Courtney Jamison of Ottumwa was arrested and charged with Accessory After the Fact in connection with the theft of the belts. Accessory After the Fact is an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Jamison was released from the Wapello County Jail after posting $3,000.00 bond.

Both the original championship belt and the replica have been recovered.

 

[Chris]

So, uh, how exactly did the belt get stolen? Was it just sitting somewhere or what?

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Aces and 8's must have helped him out.

 

[John McHenry]

This isn't a work?

 

[Defiant]

If they got away with it, it would've been the best thing ever.

 

[Nevermore Arcanum]

New Champion! New Champion! Oh my God!!! (I'm sorry, that's my best Joey Styles impression.)

 

[Deezy]

TNA belts are pretty cheap.

 

[LLCoolJoel]

That's respect for the belt. Leave it laying around.

 

[Troy]

TMZ.com featured a story on the theft of the TNA title belt at the Iowa house show last week. According to their story, the belt and a replica were swiped from the truck of a "stagehand" who had his back turned while unloading other items.
Security cameras from the venue helped local authorities track down the suspects. The belts have been returned to TNA.

Not good for TNA, bad bit of publicity for them. Good that they were able to catch those that did it and get the belts back but still pretty bad that it was able to be stolen from the crew.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Wait, the champions to take the belts home with them? There goes my childhood dream.

 

[Troy]

I assumed that the champions would carry it as well so that they could appear at events with it. Didn't realise that it was trucked around by the company from one event to another.

 

[John McHenry]

I assumed that the champions would carry it as well so that they could appear at events with it. Didn't realise that it was trucked around by the company from one event to another.

I've always heard that WWE belts are used in a manner where the champ is responsible for the belt to be their etc maybe its just a tna thing or a back up belt?

 

[Deezy]

Imagine if Jericho lost the title?

 

[Tapout]

I'm pretty sure WWE stars carry the belts themselves. From what I've read in autobiographies, and heard in interviews with Punk.