Barefoot Bandit's Life on the Lam

Long before the so-called Barefoot Bandit became an Internet sensation, Colton Harris-Moore was hiding in tree houses and swiping frozen pizza and ice cream. One of his first criminal nicknames was “Island Boy,” bestowed upon him by Washington State victims who lost various tasty treats to the thief. Harris-Moore lived in a trailer on a dead-end road, and spent much of his childhood lonely and in hiding, The New York Times reports. His family life was volatile, with child protection services alerted to his home life a dozen times before he was 15. A social worker noted after his first arrest, at age 12, that Harris-Moore wanted his mom to quit drinking, get a job and get food in the house, but “Mom refuses.” Neighbors heard screaming arguments and gunshots at night. Harris-Moore dropped out of school after ninth grade but was deeply interested in technology, stealing laptops, GPS devices and at least five airplanes. He’s due in Washington Court Thursday.