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At just 19 years old, the Barefoot Bandit is being called a folk-hero Houdini in the modern age.
Colton Harris-Moore became the Barefoot Bandit for committing crimes in his bare feet. Since being arrested and then escaping in April 2008, the 6'5" criminal has evaded police by hiding in the woods of Washington state.
He's committed more than 100 crimes amounting to about $1.5 million in property, and he's gained a cult following on Facebook: Harris-Moore has more than 40,000 fans. Now, the FBI is after this teenage outlaw.
Many say he is extremely intelligent — he's suspected of stealing, flying hundreds of miles in, then crash-landing four private planes despite never having taken a flying lesson. NBC affiliate KING in Washington examines his playful possible crimes.
"The door to his hangar in Anacortes left wide open — no sign of forced entry. ... And may have hit the island's grocery store as well. The burglar stole cash and cheesecake and destroyed the store's surveillance system. ... Whoever it was also left behind a not-so-cute calling card: chalk footprints drawn on the floor."
ABC affiliate KOMO describes the aftermath.
JOEL MORENO: "Dozens of heavily armed officers fan out across the west end of Orcas island. ... A source tells KOMO4 News the manhunt started after someone triggered alarms at two airport hangars. That brought FBI agents, border patrol officers and dog-tracking teams to scour the surrounding woods."
But Harris-Moore uses stolen credit cards to buy tools like night-vision goggles and bear-repelling mace, and he remains elusive.
The last photo that could be of him was taken in May on a surveillance camera on a dock where a 30-foot boat was stolen.
Harris-Moore steals on the Washington islands where he's from. That's why he needs planes and boats — to get from island to island. On NBC, residents seem fed up.
"He broke into my house, took my keys and took my car."
"Do you sleep well at night?"
"No."
ABC quotes Harris-Moore's mother, who he still contacts.
"She also said he often goes out in public wearing disguises. 'Mom, you could walk right by me and not know who I was,' she says he told her. 'You know they're after you and they're going to shoot you,' she says she told him. His reply was, 'Oh, I know that.'"
In early June an anonymous $50,000 offer was announced for Harris-Moore to turn himself in, but he did not. His mother says the last time she spoke to him, he told her he had "something big planned," but he wouldn't say what.
