The Youngest Thief

During our years many of us go through a phase and I was no exception. I had friends who took up smoking or developed interests as a way to defy their parents expectations. I also had my taste of teenage rebellion. For six months when I was 14 I boldly decided to drink tea without using a coaster. However my acts of defiance were quite minor compared to the adventures of an American named Colton Harris Moore, famously known as The Barefoot Bandit.

Coltons story begins with a childhood, on Camano Island in the Puget Sound region. It was marked by family dysfunction, poverty and various challenges. Growing up in a trailer amidst the forest Colton faced difficulties with his father, who struggled with heroin addiction and even assaulted him when he was 12 years old. His mother added to the turmoil as she battled alcoholism and exhibited behaviour. Seeking an escape from his home life at an early age Colton would often disappear into the woods for days.

His early involvement in theft stemmed from a need for survival. Due to food resources, at home he resorted to stealing from others. He would take blankets and clothes for his nights spent outdoors.

In the beginning Colton was caught several times, for stealing. As time went on his stealing activities became more serious. His classmates even started calling him "Klepto Colt." When he reached the age of 16 he began breaking into vacation homes on Camano Island.

In 2007 Colton was caught during one of his break ins when neighbours noticed lights on in a house that was supposed to be empty. He ended up facing 23 charges related to theft. Was sentenced to four years in a detention facility. Surprisingly it seemed like he changed during his time and after one year he earned a transfer to a facility with minimum security measures. However this called "minimum" security turned out to be inadequate because Colton managed to escape when he was 17 years old. This led to a two year period where he lived as a fugitive.

During his life as a fugitive Colton constantly moved between states and parts of Canada. He adopted a lifestyle. Managed to evade authorities by staying off their radar. He would only venture into areas when he needed something to steal. His daring nature and willingness to take risks were evident in his break ins; from taking baths in stolen homes to even stealing airplanes. Colton had taught himself how to fly aircraft and successfully stole and piloted five planes.

His daring escapades gained him quite the reputation. He even developed a following, on Facebook with pages celebrating The Barefoot Bandit.

The authorities were embarrassed by their inability to capture him so they intensified their efforts leading to a $10,000 reward offered by the FBI. Colton took a step by flying a stolen plane for, over 1200 miles to reach the Bahamas.

Once in the Bahamas Colton continued his spree of activities attracting attention from the locals and catching the eye of the FBI who put out a bounty on him. This led to a boat chase where Colton managed to steal two boats and was pursued by law enforcement. Despite being armed he eventually got stranded when the boats engine was shot out. His arrest marked an end to his two year escapade. Colton was apprehended without shoes.

Colton faced consequences for his actions in the Bahamas. Received a comparatively lenient sentence upon returning to the United States. He served only five years of a seven year sentence. Upon his release in 2016 he found employment with the attorney who defended him during his trial. Despite his past Colton has shown a desire to make amends by contributing towards restitution payments, for those he harmed. The story of the Barefoot Bandit remains polarizing, serving as evidence of just how complex it is when rebellious youth seek redemption.