The “Barefoot Bandit” has been plaguing news broadcasts and newspapers ever since he was first sighted in the Bahamas. Now that he has been caught, his publicity is even greater—especially on Facebook.
Although the Barefoot Bandit has been taken into custody, his supporters remain strong and vocal on the popular site.
Colton Harris-Moore, 19, known as the infamous Barefoot Bandit, eluded the law for two years, stealing cars, powerboats and airplanes. On Sunday, July 11, he was caught in the Bahamas.
He has been on the run since escaping from a Washington halfway house. Harris-Moore is accused of allegedly breaking into multiple homes and committing burglaries across Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. He is also blamed for several thefts in the Bahamas during the week after he allegedly crash-landed a stolen plane there.
To most people, a person onto whom all these accusations have been placed with a large pile of evidence stacked against them would be considered a criminal, but not the Barefoot Bandit. Through everything, his supporters have grown in numbers and strength.
Upon his arrest, fans of Harris-Moore poured over their computers and spilled their guts out for all of Facebook with statements such as “Free Colton!” “Let Colton Fly!” and “You are my hero!” Some fans are even marketing t-shirts that say “Free the Barefoot Bandit” to spread the word that Harris-Moore should be set free.
His “hero” status on Facebook has made him a bigger celebrity. Now people are suggesting that they turn this whole story into a movie, book or a game. Would these people be praising Harris-Moore if he had more than just property damages under his belt? There are plenty of people commenting on Facebook that they need to make a game based off of his adventures and that it would be like Grand Theft Auto.
The whole fascination with the Barefoot Bandit seems completely ridiculous. He is a 19-year-old kid who has stolen and damaged a bunch of other people’s property and he is getting praised for it. Yes, he eluded police for two years, but that should not be something that should be celebrated.
He is even being called “Today’s Robin Hood” by some supporters. Harris-Moore was not doing anything for the good of anyone except maybe himself. The moral behind Robin Hood is that he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The Barefoot Bandit is nothing like that.
Would these supporters be so pleased if it were their boats or planes he stole? Doubt it.