Dry cleaner gives same-day service to thieves

[Mugu]

Reporting by Rob Taylor, editing by Valerie Lee

CANBERRA (Reuters) - A dry-cleaning shop owner in Papua New Guinea has found a unique way of encouraging thieves to clean up their behavior: giving them a steam cleaning.

Police in the northeast coastal town of Lae said a 20-year-old man suffered burns and scalding to his abdomen, chest and back after the owner turned a steam cleaner on him after he was caught stealing pants worth 14 kina ($5.50).

"The owner has done this to many people already," police spokesman Nema Mondiai told Australian Associated Press on Wednesday.

Police seemed unconcerned about the radical punishment and released the thief after being assured he had learned his lesson.


Complete article at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0944801020080409

[hobbit709]

1. A new meaning of the phrase

"Taken to the cleaners"