soonergruntJan 4, 2023
Pwnallthethings

So this is interesting. Remember the couple of cases of people shooting at four electrical substations near Tacoma in Washington State, seemingly without obvious reasons on Christmas?

Well, two people just got arrested for it. And it's an interesting story.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/press-release/file/1560621/download

Jan 3, 2023 at 10:18pmWeb
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
First, they got caught because they brought their phones. The phones gave the Feds their subscriber accounts, which also matched a vehicle registered to one of them that was visible from a distance on a CCTV.
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
But the big question was always *why*? Was this some form of domestic terrorism? Some coordinated activity? What on Earth could it be?
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
Turns out (at least this time) it's simple burglary. They cut the power by attacking the substations, and then went to a local business, drilled out a lock, and stole from a cash register.
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
Curious how many dollars they got from that cash register for the low-low price of doing $3m worth of damage that put power out in 14,000 homes on Christmas day
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
(my bet is a few hundred, and much less than $1000)
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
The indictment doesn't say, but from Pierce Country records, this most closely matches the likely burglary itself. Not an exact match to the confession, but closest to right time and place.
Show threadTom von AltenJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Stealing lottery tickets, that's really the cherry on top.
Show threadAndrew BuckoJan 3, 2023
@fortboise @Pwnallthethings obviously this is going to vary from store to store but the place I worked at kept pretty close tabs on the lottery ticket serial numbers. Shortly after finding out they were what was stolen, they were probably marked as such and made worthless.
Show threadCat WestJan 3, 2023
@trekologer @fortboise @Pwnallthethings Most people don’t realize that. Where I worked, a guy jumped the counter and scooped up the tickets (I was not there). He got caught 2 hrs later cashing in a $25 “winner” because the numbers were recorded.
Show threadAndrew BuckoJan 4, 2023
@Catawu @fortboise @Pwnallthethings he won more than $25
Show threadTom von AltenJan 4, 2023

@trekologer @Pwnallthethings I was thinking probably.

It's quite the sad commentary about greed and ignorance.

Show threadSereneJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings OMG if they did this to steal a bunch of lottery tickets I'm going into comedy
Show threadlizzardJan 3, 2023
@mythserene @Pwnallthethings better yet go into consultancy for dumb petty criminals
Show threadheffaJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings it feels like they toggled between far-right psyops videos, Pink Panther and Bugs Bunny cartoons and this is the result
.
.
.
Or it’s a cover-up idk 🤷
Show threadmask-wearing, socially distant entityJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings For some reason, stealing lotto tix makes more sense to me than hoping for cash in the till. I mean, the whole thing is absurd, but if you think you may win a million dollars… maybe you’re that dumb?
Show threadDavidJan 3, 2023
@geekgrrl @Pwnallthethings And also imagining you'd be able to claim the prize without anybody checking to see if the ticket was actually *sold*
Show threadsilverhorsemanJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings
All the better criminals are committing fraud these days.
Burglary and robbery are reserved for dumbest of the dumb.
Show threadMaura HubbellJan 3, 2023
@silverhorseman @Pwnallthethings Yup. White collar crime has been where it’s at for decades if not centuries.
Show threadMartha HowellJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings So, they stole tickets that were traceable, could likely be deactivated once reported stolen, and have a dubious chance at *any* payout?
Show threadWndlBJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings For which there would be an inventory, and inventory numbers, no? These are like the Darwin Awards of criming
Show threadMichael SlatteryJan 3, 2023
@wndlb @Pwnallthethings They're not smart
Show threadWndlBJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings @Gargron can something like @threadreaderapp work on #mastodon? Because this one NEEDS it
Show threadJack MottJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnEMkqteC6w
Die Hard (1988) - give me the code

YouTube
Show threadbillheywoodJan 3, 2023

@Pwnallthethings
Madness

And who keeps money in the till?

Show threadCat WestJan 3, 2023
@billheywood @Pwnallthethings The money in the till (The “float” most likely) was probably less than $220 in currency & coin. And yes, if they had a safe, it should’ve been in there unless the person who opens up in the morning is not the one that has the combination to open that safe. Unfortunately, many of the quick stores only have floor safes which employees can’t open, ever. Owners too cheap to install 2ndry safe.
Show threadThomas H Jones IIJan 3, 2023

@billheywood @Pwnallthethings

In rural areas? A nontrivial percentage of (especially independent/mom&pop) businesses do.

Show threadbillheywoodJan 4, 2023

@ferricoxide @Pwnallthethings
I believe it

I just don't think it is sensible for any business. Sadly rural crime is a thing

Show threadThomas H Jones IIJan 4, 2023

@billheywood @Pwnallthethings

A lot of people love the idea of living "someplace we don't have to lock our doors". Coming from such an area, there were (and even still are) plenty of people that lived their lives that way. Leaving money in the till was part of that mind-set. That said, most don't leave more than an amount necessary to make the first-of-the-day's sales change (which is to say, definitely not worth elaborate breakin plans, let alone wiping out the local grid).

Show threadbillheywoodJan 4, 2023

@ferricoxide @Pwnallthethings
If that's all they were after, then why not just force the door and crowbar open the till?

Perhaps they'd watched Die Hard and thought they were breaking in to the vault at Nakatomi Tower 😂

Show threadThomas H Jones IIJan 4, 2023

@billheywood @Pwnallthethings

The "can't believe the stupidity" part of me says "they think they'll avoid a terrorism charge by claiming it was just a misguided robbery scheme".

The less optimistic part of me thinks "they might just be THAT stupid that they thought they needed to go that complicated a route".

Show threadVoight KampffJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Ah yes, quite the brain trust with those dudes, lol!
Show threadcremevax👩🏻‍💻🏳️‍🌈​🇨🇦🇺🇦Jan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Seattle times story has more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/two-charged-in-pierce-county-christmas-day-substation-attacks/
Two charged in Pierce County Christmas Day substation attacks

Prosecutors say the men attacked two Tacoma Power and two Puget Sound Energy substations, causing $3 million in damage on Christmas Day.

The Seattle Times
Show threadSFJeniferJan 3, 2023
@cremevax @Pwnallthethings If the ST story has the details correct, they were merely damned lucky to not electrocute themselves.
Show threadpiofthingsJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings smells of a cover up #TinFoilHatOn!!!
Show threadDouglas PhillipsJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings certainly not enough to justify the federal charges coming their way ...
Show threadstephen judkinsJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings some real brain geniuses there
Show threadComfortably NumbJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings um, what if the alarm system had battery backup?
Show threadPwnallthethingsJan 3, 2023
@ygalanter I'm not sure given the facts of this case that they were very good at making decisions
Show threadPusher Of Pixels (old account)Jan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings @ygalanter *good decisions anyway
Show threadv̾i̾t̾r̾i̾o̾l̾i̾x̾Jan 4, 2023
@pixelpusher220 @Pwnallthethings @ygalanter indeed decisions were made
Show threadColinJan 4, 2023
@ygalanter @Pwnallthethings Batteries need power too, duh
Show threadCat WestJan 4, 2023
@ygalanter @Pwnallthethings It would still have to travel to the Police Dept along dead lines. And most alarm systems don’t cover the walls. Just doors/windows.
Show threadRawwwbJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings This is how I feel sometimes debugging software. So much of the time I look for really complex, novel problems... but the actual break turns out to be something completely routine and fundamental.
Show threadDavid J. AtkinsonJan 3, 2023
@Rawwwb @Pwnallthethings Now you are really scaring me!
Show threadJack MottJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings I feel like I should offer consulting services for crime. I don't even have any crime experience but I could help a lot.
Show threadJack MottJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings so two free tips:
1. don't bring your cell phone, even if it is off
2. if you attack a power substation it should be to facilitate at least 2 million in profit
Show threadOdinshorrorJan 3, 2023
@jackmott @Pwnallthethings I’m glad they were caught but it’s unfortunate that the cell phone tactics used to catch them is made public. And the same goes for how Ukraine is locating Russians via cell phone tracking. Hate to see bad people get smarter on how to not get caught.
Show threadJack MottJan 3, 2023
@odinshorror @Pwnallthethings i don’t remember why but I was already aware of this, not sure it will change the equation much.
Show threadOdinshorrorJan 3, 2023
@jackmott @Pwnallthethings as was I. I figured in the beginning they would be able to check cell towers to see what phones were “pinging” in that area.
Show threadThomas H Jones IIJan 3, 2023

@odinshorror @jackmott @Pwnallthethings

You make the bold assumption that people learn from others' mistakes. In both situations, the traceability of cellular devices has long been known, yet not widely internalized by those with the most to lose by not staying radio dark.

Show threadOdinshorrorJan 3, 2023
@ferricoxide @jackmott @Pwnallthethings I find it incredible that most people don’t think about this. Even the Idaho killer aside from his “familial” dna being found, they tracked his cell to the location of the 4 murders. And he was studying to be a criminologist or something like that.
Show threadJack MottJan 4, 2023
@odinshorror @ferricoxide @Pwnallthethings it helps that most smart people do white collar crime
Show threadWesley FryerJan 4, 2023
@odinshorror @jackmott @Pwnallthethings I think I read that Bin Laden was eventually identified because of cell phone tracking. Or at least it really helped in the confirmation of the location in Pakistan. He had evidently been pretty diligent in making sure no one around him used the cell phones. Until he wasn’t.
Show threadJack MottJan 4, 2023
@wfryer @odinshorror @Pwnallthethings he was prolly like “fffuuuuck can’t not play candy crush another fucking month”
Show threadOdinshorrorJan 4, 2023
@wfryer @jackmott @Pwnallthethings yeah, that and familial dna and a Pakistan doctor (who was imprisoned for helping us do the mission).
Show threademuziekJan 4, 2023
@wfryer @odinshorror @jackmott @Pwnallthethings - Aaaahh..... South Hill ... HWE 161.... Meridian St ... What a lovely #carsewer that area is. You're treated with Graham and Puyallup just outside at the outer limits. We moved to Graham in the early 80s. "The Willows" was the only shopping mall on the strip. Life was different then. I survived the original Kapowsin elementary and BHS. -- I wonder if they used a financial planner?🙄 "After tonight's job, we're going to be on Easy Street."
Show threadBrand BJan 4, 2023
@odinshorror @jackmott @Pwnallthethings
That lesson was publicized far and wide on January 6, 2021, and no one seems to have learned it yet. So probably not a big deal.
Show threadThiago FigueiróJan 4, 2023
@jackmott @Pwnallthethings the plot of Ocean’s Two is looking pretty weak
Show threadHighlandLawyerJan 3, 2023
@jackmott @Pwnallthethings Jack Mott? Your pseudonym doesn't fool us... Professor James Moriarty
Show threadTaylor NixJan 3, 2023
@Pwnallthethings big big brains