It took 90 minutes for Daily News to 'steal' the Empire State Building

[The Straight Story]

It took 90 minutes for Daily News to 'steal' the Empire State Building

In one of the biggest heists in American history, the Daily News "stole" the $2 billion Empire State Building.

And it wasn't that hard.

The News swiped the 102-story Art Deco skyscraper by drawing up a batch of bogus documents, making a fake notary stamp and filing paperwork with the city to transfer the deed to the property.

Some of the information was laughable: Original "King Kong" star Fay Wray is listed as a witness and the notary shared a name with bank robber Willie Sutton.

The massive ripoff illustrates a gaping loophole in the city's system for recording deeds, mortgages and other transactions.

The loophole: The system - run by the office of the city register - doesn't require clerks to verify the information.

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/12/02/2008-12-02_it_took_90_minutes_for_daily_news_to_ste.html

[DS1]

1. Dude

Don't you have more important things to worry about?

[The Straight Story]

4. No, she is sleeping peacefully thankfully

:)

[Posteritatis]

2. That's kind of awesome and horrifying in equal measure (nt)

[madamesilverspurs]

3. Oh goody.

Can't wait for how the freepers turn this into another birth certificate conspiracy...

[Berry Cool]

5. I heard that the Empire State Building is actually in Kenya. n/t

[Posteritatis]

6. Check the comments on that article; they did almost immediately (nt)