Cops: 2 Tried to Sell Wooden Blocks as Laptops

(AP)  Investigators in Mississippi say two men wrapped blocks of wood in duct tape and bubble wrap, attached Toshiba labels and tried to pass them off as laptops.

Hinds County authorities charged the men with trademark infringement and selling goods with counterfeit labels.

WLBT-TV in Jackson reports the men were caught Thursday when they tried to sell the fake laptops to an off-duty state trooper.

Hinds County Sheriff's Lt. Jeffery Scott says authorities also found binders filled with paper being passed off as computers.

However, no one actually bought the fakes.

[Scimajor]

It reminds me of the first day that I moved into my house in Livermore, California (I no longer live there). Some guy came around trying to sell "meat" from the back of his truck.

I declined to purchase the "meat".

[tsigili]

Ok, even in MS, the people aren't complete fools.

[bzydad-2009]

I thought Toshiba's were bricks?

[book_of_wally]

Does this guy look like Micheal Palin from Monty Python? That would be funny. "A piece of wood? No governor, it a fine piece of the cutting edge of technology!"

[rwsmith29456]

Don't buy stuff on the streets.

[Dunestrider]

I remember, many years, ago, some guy was caught where they made Zenith laptops (yes, Zenith used to make laptops). Apparently a brick was the same weight as the laptop, so he would take the laptop, put a brick in its place (in the computer box), and ship the box (with the brick in it) to the end customer. Can you imagine spending a thousand bucks for a laptop, and just receive a brick? And trying to convince the vendor that no computer was received?

[barbaram99]

Nope..They will do anything for a buck..

[carolhill814]

I think I have heard everything now.

[imthaid]

No you haven't. At Chicago's McCormick Place people will go through the dumpsters and collect empty electronics boxes and junked items. Then they try to sell electronics. They will have an open item which has been junked and try to sell it. When someone want's to buy it at ridiculously reduced price the vendor says he can give them one in an unopened box. When the customer gets home and opens the box, he only finds a cement brick.

[nojoy01]

This is truly giggle material. One of these morons thought this idocy up and the other thought it was a good idea! Fortunately for these two there is no law on the books, anywhere in the country, for being terminally stupid. Can you imagine the prosecutors reading the Patrolmans' report and actually running the risk of personal injury because they were laughing so hard? The one viable defense that I recommend to their probably court appointed attorney is the insanity defense. If I remember my Latin well enough it would be a case of "res ipse loquitur" (the thing speaks for itself)