[ThomPete]

It's an interesting dilemma.

One one side what he does is obviously wrong. On the other side what fantastic skills.

With regards to the people of Austria I am pretty sure that the star wasn't made without exploiting other people.

Things like these are not so black and white.

That story is a film worthy.

[makmanalp]

Fantastic skills? He kept documentation of his false identities and jobs. He filmed his heists. He carelessly used names on the phone. He was sloppy, and he paid for it.

[benologist]

It was actually really surprising how inept he was at that side of it, and the ease with which he'd incriminate himself and everyone else via cell phones and email.

It just seemed like a really weird contrast, smart enough to plan and execute flawless robberies and escapes repeatedly, yet so stupid in that aspect. If he watched any crime serials or movies he'd probably have been unstoppable.

[scotty79]

Don't you think that he wanted to get caught eventually?

I think this was the safest way out of criminal lifestyle that could probably lead him to premature death.

It worked out great for him. Just selling movie rights would earn him loads of cash. Not to mention being most renown bank security consultant in the world.

[mseebach]

Not really. Your skills and what you apply said skills to don't overlap.

What's a dilemma is that we only hear about these people when they apply their skills to evil. If he'd done a career in bank security, it's very likely we'd never have heard a word about what he did.

> I am pretty sure that the star wasn't made without exploiting other people

Sure, that's why it belongs to, and should belong to, the austrian people.

> That story is a film worthy.

Catch me if You Can II: The Austrian Job :)

[pohl]

What's a dilemma is that we only hear about these people when they apply their skills to evil.

It's a dilemma in the same sense that rain on your wedding day is ironic. You've just written Ms. Morissette's comeback single.

[mseebach]

I'm sorry, it's a shame then :)

[ThomPete]

The dilemma is that on one side I am fascinated by a guy like that on the other what he is doing is obviously wrong from at a legal point of view.

He is not just a criminal who do what he do because he have no choice. He could have been doing "good" and still be highly successful.

It's not just the skills it's the guts to do what he do. To live a life that is almost crazier than any story you can think off.

In some ways he is an artist.

With regards to the Austrian people you are missing the point. That star is not just made through hard work from the Austrian people. I am pretty sure that diamond didn't come from Austria although I could be wrong of course.