In One Ear: eBay and the Barefoot Bandit

The Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore (pictured in a self-portrait) caused a ruckus on the North Coast when he stole a fishing vessel in Ilwaco, Wash., and brought it to Oregon during his 2010 crime spree.

But despite his recklessness here, his heart was in the right place in Raymond, Wash. A recent story on KING5.com (http://tinyurl.com/bareband1) reports that while the Bandit was on the lam in Raymond, he stopped by Vetters Animal Hospital and left $100 and a note: Drove by, had some extra cash. Please use this money for the care of animals. The photo of the note is courtesy of KING5.

The money, and copies of the police reports documenting that it was the Bandits fingerprints on the bills, were recently released to veterinarian Dr. Gina Lewis at Vetters, who attempted to auction the items off on eBay to raise money for the Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals (HAVA).

But, according to KXRO Newsradio (http://tinyurl.com/bareband2), once the bidding for the items topped $1,000, eBay stopped the auction and temporarily removed the listing even though HAVA is a registered eBay charity.

HAVA is now attempting to restore the auction listing. The Barefoot Bandit would likely be pleased.

Elleda Wilson