Everyone, hands up! I've got a gun and Chartbusters card

In an embarrassing case of unmistakeable identity, police in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, have identified a bank robber after he left his wallet behind at the teller counter. Suspect Lloyd Virgil Barclay made off with $800 but police traced him through photo ID. The 51-year-old passed a note to the teller claiming he had a gun. He then left the premises with his loot – but forgot to take his wallet with him.

Dutch police go from soaring high to crushing low

In an embarrassing case of mistaken identity, Dutch police admitted they mowed down what they thought were illegal marijuana plants only to find out they were part of an officially sanctioned research project by Wageningen University. Jubilant police had claimed the haul was worth over €5m on the streets.

No, not bored, just very, very drunk

A French grandmaster was check-mated on a technicality during a chess tournament in Kolkata, India. He was so drunk he fell asleep after just 11 moves.

Another headache for Christmas

Meet H1N1, the pink cuddly swine flu toy sold at the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta among a range of soft toys based on nasty diseases such as anthrax, gonorrhea, HIV, chlamydia and bed bugs.