Good Guy Heist

One of our most daring escapades involved breaking into a locker to reclaim my electronic sound device, stolen by George Capones, the leader of a local Greek gang. Using a copy of the school's master key, he pilfered my creation from my locker.

To retrieve it from his padlocked locker, we crafted a master key from a random locker key we found on campus. With a little distraction from my partner in mischief, Croatian Peter "Paj" Pajelic, we molded Capones' padlock key into plasticine while it hung from his keychain. After some careful filing, we were able to unlock both lockers with surprising ease.

Creating Our Own Currency

Paj and his friend Peter were fans of the political cartoon Jeff Hook, which featured a hidden element in each daily frame. This cartoon inexplicably became a form of currency in our school, with students trading them for snacks and even bicycles. The Greek gang got involved, leading to a chaotic environment of theft and retrieval.

Our school days became a whirlwind of watching our belongings, creating decoys, and plotting recoveries. Academic work was often sidelined as we focused on our antics and engineering projects during what were supposed to be serious classes. Just before the currency's downfall, I managed to trade my collection of Jeff Hooks for electronics with a trustworthy friend.

Teacher Absentee Stats

Our teachers faced quite a challenge in the permissive environment of the late 1970s. Our Grade 7 English teacher reportedly had a breakdown due to our antics. In an attempt to shake off the good guy persona, I began tracking teacher attendance, revealing some amusing patterns that confirmed our suspicions about certain faculty members.

The results were entertaining, suggesting potential relationships between various teachers based on their attendance records. Soon, half the class was invested in my findings, making predictions about which teachers might be absent that day.

Inventing the Binary Code

In Grade 8, I constructed a mechanical series-to-parallel decoder, inspired by historical punched card technology. My friends and I were obsessed with remote control cars and wanted to create a model with advanced features. My invention aimed to expand the number of control channels available, leading me to discover the basics of binary code.

Though we never fully completed the project, the experience sparked my interest in digital electronics, which I would later explore at Radio Shack. My first encounter with computer logic and memory would change my perspective forever.

Bugging and Eavesdropping

In a playful twist, we bugged our classmates by leaving tape recorders near their desks. At home, I rigged a wired bug in my sister's room, leading to some hilarious moments before she caught on. It was all in good fun, but it showcased our inventive spirit.

Two-Stage Fireworks

Our geek group, consisting of various backgrounds, often collaborated on science projects. George Capones introduced illegal fireworks into our mix, and I proposed we build two-stage rockets. This endeavor proved challenging, requiring precision in design and timing, but we managed a few successful launches.

Army ID Cards

Paj, an exceptional artist, crafted fake army ID cards that elevated us to high ranks in a fictional military. We flashed these cards at the library, leading to amusing moments as staff became curious about our new "security system." Soon, even friends from the Greek gang wanted their own cards, leading to a mini-economy of sorts.

Synchronized Watches

We formed a secret intelligence group, aiming to solve mysteries and conduct surveillance. One of the most thrilling exercises involved synchronizing our watches, allowing us to enter the cafeteria from different doors at the exact same time. It felt like a covert operation, and we reveled in the precision of our timing.

Sports Stats and Teacher Anecdotes

Our lunch breaks were filled with organized sports, often more serious than those played by the popular crowd. Paj kept meticulous records of our games, and we spent rainy days immersed in engineering projects and creative capers.

One memorable incident involved tallying the colorful language of Mr. Coffee, our beloved graphics teacher, leading to a comical confrontation when he discovered our notes.

As I reflect on these cherished memories, they represent a vibrant time filled with creativity, friendship, and a touch of mischief.

Exploring the Perfect Heist

In the first video, The Perfect Heist Doesn't Exist They Said, we delve into the intricacies of planning the unthinkable. This thought-provoking piece challenges the notion of a flawless crime and highlights the complexities involved in executing a heist.

The Loomis Fargo Heist

The second video, The Man Behind The Largest Bank Robbery in U.S. History | Loomis Fargo Bank Heist & Mastermind Movie, explores the mastermind behind one of the most infamous bank robberies in American history. It provides an intriguing look at the planning and execution of this monumental crime.