Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store

**Jason** · 10-20-2009, 10:19 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A woman being driven around in a rented limousine pulled up at a coat store and announced she'd won the lottery and would pay for everyone's purchases, police said, but she ended up causing a riot when customers realized it was a hoax.

Angry customers threw merchandise around and looted, leaving the store looking as though a hurricane had passed through it, police said.

Linda Brown was arrested Tuesday after an hours-long shopping spree that began when she hired a stretch Hummer limousine to drop her off at a Burlington Coat Factory store, police Sgt. Lt. Michael Deakins said. Brown walked to a cash register and loudly announced she had won the lottery and would pay for each person's merchandise up to $500, he said.

"Well, of course, people like to hear that," Deakins said. "Apparently they were in line calling relatives who were not at the store and told them to come."

People flooded the registers as cashiers began ringing up purchase after purchase, but Brown had not yet paid the bill, Deakins said. At least 500 people filled the aisles and another 1,000 were outside trying to get in, he said.

"She was telling people she won $1.5 million," Deakins said. "But it ends up she didn't win anything. She had no money to pay for anything."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

That's when angry customers, realizing they weren't getting free coats, began throwing merchandise on the floor and grabbing clothes without paying for them, Nace said.

"Everybody was like, 'I still want my free stuff,' and that started the riot," he said. "It looks like (Hurricane) Katrina went through the store."

Police said they have no way of tracking down the customers who stole items and fled, but they're reviewing surveillance video.

Zealex · 10-20-2009, 10:22 AM

It does sound to good to be true...

ebackhus · 10-20-2009, 05:38 PM

Greedy idiots...

**Basementgeek** · 10-20-2009, 09:01 PM

That was here in my town.

They have her off and having her marbles counted as she seems to be missing a few.

BG

**l_b_rex** · 10-22-2009, 04:24 PM

Why doesn't the lady have to pay? That is a verablly legal binding contract. She should have to pay for everything.

**Basementgeek** · 10-22-2009, 05:15 PM

She did use her charge card until she reach her $5000 limit.

I doubt they will can/do anything as she was not sane.

BG

10-20-2009, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jason Faugh a ballagh Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pasco, FL Posts: 8,477 OS: Windows Vista My System Blog Entries: 2	Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A woman being driven around in a rented limousine pulled up at a coat store and announced she'd won the lottery and would pay for everyone's purchases, police said, but she ended up causing a riot when customers realized it was a hoax. Angry customers threw merchandise around and looted, leaving the store looking as though a hurricane had passed through it, police said. Linda Brown was arrested Tuesday after an hours-long shopping spree that began when she hired a stretch Hummer limousine to drop her off at a Burlington Coat Factory store, police Sgt. Lt. Michael Deakins said. Brown walked to a cash register and loudly announced she had won the lottery and would pay for each person's merchandise up to $500, he said. "Well, of course, people like to hear that," Deakins said. "Apparently they were in line calling relatives who were not at the store and told them to come." People flooded the registers as cashiers began ringing up purchase after purchase, but Brown had not yet paid the bill, Deakins said. At least 500 people filled the aisles and another 1,000 were outside trying to get in, he said. "She was telling people she won $1.5 million," Deakins said. "But it ends up she didn't win anything. She had no money to pay for anything." http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT That's when angry customers, realizing they weren't getting free coats, began throwing merchandise on the floor and grabbing clothes without paying for them, Nace said. "Everybody was like, 'I still want my free stuff,' and that started the riot," he said. "It looks like (Hurricane) Katrina went through the store." Police said they have no way of tracking down the customers who stole items and fled, but they're reviewing surveillance video. __________________ Posting Tips \| Advice for New People \| Common Fixes \| Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh

10-20-2009, 10:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zealex Tech, Games Team Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 2,159 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit SP2 My System	Re: Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store It does sound to good to be true... __________________ Xfire Steam Nvidia Drivers ATI Drivers DirectX 9.0c Game-O-Meter System Information for Windows(SIW) Revo Uninstaller

10-20-2009, 05:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,293 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store Greedy idiots... __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

10-20-2009, 09:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Basementgeek Moderator, Home Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Ohio, USA Posts: 1,505 OS: XP Pro SP2/Vista Ultimate SP2 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store That was here in my town. They have her off and having her marbles counted as she seems to be missing a few. BG __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. Proud member of ASAP

10-22-2009, 04:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
l_b_rex The almighty Dr.Tran! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,106 OS: Vista Home Premium 32 bit	Re: Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store Why doesn't the lady have to pay? That is a verablly legal binding contract. She should have to pay for everything. __________________ If my avatar piques your interest, go to google and search Dr.Tran video and have a look.

10-22-2009, 05:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Basementgeek Moderator, Home Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Ohio, USA Posts: 1,505 OS: XP Pro SP2/Vista Ultimate SP2 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Lottery hoax causes riot at Ohio coat store She did use her charge card until she reach her $5000 limit. I doubt they will can/do anything as she was not sane. BG __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. Proud member of ASAP