World Briefs

A man stole his ex-girlfriend’s engagement ring on Thanksgiving in the hope of patching up his relationship with his wife, police in Pennsylvania said.

Donald Albritton, 35, swiped the ring while his former girlfriend made Thanksgiving dinner and later gave it to his current wife.

Investigators say Albritton had gone to his ex’s home to drop off a cheque and thank her for not involving the police in another matter. But The Times-Tribune of Scranton reports witnesses claimed they saw him palm the ring before he left. Albritton was charged with theft and released on bail following his arraignment. (AP)

Unwitting iPhone photograph

A woman unwittingly took her own picture as she unlocked a stolen iPhone – only for the image to be sent to the owner who then called in police.

An app downloaded on to the phone takes a picture of anyone who tries to unlock it, maps their location and then sends the information to the owner in an email, Sussex Police said.

The phone was stolen from the Coalition nightclub in Brighton, East Sussex, earlier this month, although police said they do not know whether the woman pictured was responsible for the theft but they appealed for her or anyone who recognises her to contact them. (AP)

Frozen ribs and gun riddle

Authorities in New Mexico have said they are puzzled by what turned up in a package of meat at a Roswell grocery store.

A worker at Albertsons opened a case of frozen ribs and found a handgun and ammunition packed with the meat.

Authorities have some clues – a police report shows that the meat came from the Swift Packing Plant in Greeley, Colorado, and is marked with the date June 8, 2011.

Greeley police said they are reviewing cases to see if the gun was used in any crimes. (AP)

Shades of Grey bonanza

Ann Summers tycoon Jacqueline Gold says the success of saucy literary hit 50 Shades of Grey has led to sales at her chain going through the roof.

The businesswoman – who is believed to be worth around £180 million – said the publishing phenomenon has helped her stores to sell out of many of their racy items.

Gold told Hello! magazine that they have sold out of handcuffs, jiggle balls and blindfolds as a result of the novel, which has sold than 14 million copies in the UK. (AP)

Uzbek Father Frost is banned

Uzbekistan appears to be stealing Christmas by keeping the local version of Santa Claus off the airwaves.

Independent news website UzMetronom reported that President Islam Karimov’s authoritarian Government has imposed the informal ban on Father Frost and his snow maiden sidekick. For decades, the characters have been regular fixtures across the former Soviet world over the New Year’s holiday season.

The ban is similar to the semi-official 2005 ban on celebrating New Year’s Eve. Uzbekistan has proven hostile to other holidays, cancelling concerts for Valentine’s Day and instead organising readings of poems by Mughal emperor Babur. (AP)