The God Factor
But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. – Proverbs 4:18-19.
If you do a search on Google for “dumb criminals” you will receive more than 96,000 results. No doubt you have heard many times about dumb criminals, dumb crooks, or stupid criminals etc. Many of the individuals labeled in this way possess a high intelligence, and so at least in that area of just brain power, they are not stupid, they are not dumb.
Here are a few of the recent accounts of people who have engaged in criminal activity with the appearance of a lack of intelligence:
In Fox Point, Wisconsin a man attempted to rob a Tae Kwon Do studio. Obviously, that was a mistake!
In Pensacola, Florida a man burglarizing a convenience store was caught when he tripped on his jeans. The burglar was fleeing the store with his arms full of cigarette cartons, and was unable to hold up his jeans, and carry the cartons at the same time.
In Fredericksburg, Virginia an intoxicated man somehow got into a state trooper’s apartment, and went to sleep on the sofa. Not long afterwards the trooper returned home, and you can guess the outcome of that.
In Chicago a man impersonating a police officer with a fake gun ordered two real off duty officers to leave the area.
In Cape Haze, Florida a man robbed a gas station, but ran out of gas before he could leave the area.
In San Francisco, a construction worker was burglarizing vehicles using a sledge hammer to break in. However, in one of the burglaries he left behind the sledge hammer, which had his name engraved on it.
In Cleveland, one man had for some reason, called 911 to report a couple of suspicious persons. In the process of getting a description of these people, the 911 operator was told to hold on, and then the operator heard the man complete a sale of heroin.
In France, a burglar planned to drill into the bank vault, but instead ended up in the bank’s restroom. Alarms were sounded, and he was quickly arrested.
Bennie Wint had been on the run from the law since 1989, but was recently arrested after being stopped for a tail light being out.
Then there was the man seen running out of a store carrying a cash register, and the police officer who just happened to be turning into the store parking lot thought that was suspicious.
There are countless more incidents of criminals who appear to commit very stupid mistakes, or are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing. I would submit to you that many of these incidents are not a result of a lack of intelligence, but instead of the God Factor. As the writer of Proverbs puts it, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
If you have been stumbling around in life, maybe it is time to do things differently. Solomon makes this suggestion as to how to change the outcome in your life, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones (Proverbs 3:5-8).”
(Are criminals just dumb or is there some other factor involved?)