KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Police say they have a leg up on the men who robbed the O’Reilly Auto Parts store here last week.

On Jan. 19, two men walked into the south Kansas City shop. While one of them distracted employees, the other went to the back and grabbed $50 in cash from a manager.

But the manager didn’t go down easy and proceeded to wrestle the unarmed robber for the money. A mechanic who was working nearby jumped into the fracas, pushed the bandit into a shelf and then grabbed his leg. Moments later, he heard a pop. The man's leg came off at the knee, followed by his pants. Holding onto the prosthetic leg, the mechanic stopped fighting and broke out into giggles.

Finally free, but obviously embarrassed, the one-legged bandit hopped out the door in his boxers and into a getaway vehicle, described as a 1990s black Ford Aerostar.

The robbery was a net loss for the thief. The prosthetic device, described as a "titanium, bendable, high-tech deal," is worth up to $7,000, according to Bob Murphy, a spokesman for the Kansas City police department.

Though police have yet to make any arrests, Murphy told Court TV that police have a suspect in mind and that it shouldn’t take too much longer to find the leg’s owner. Besides the leg and a pair of pants, police have the entire episode on videotape.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas — This story is no bull.

Joey Long, 34, is in jail after he allegedly stole $4,600 worth of frozen bull semen from the McKeller Ranch during the early morning hours of Jan. 11. Long also is accused of taking an artificial insemination kit valued at $200, police say.

Authorities don’t know for sure why Long wanted the sperm, but they believe he did not intend to steal it, according to Arvel Sheppard, a spokesman for the Titus County sheriff’s office. Instead, Long was apparently looking for liquid nitrogen that can be used to produce methamphetamine. The sperm was preserved in a canister containing liquid nitrogen to keep it intact.

Authorities arrested Long a short time after the heist, following a short pursuit. The semen was found in the trunk of his abandoned car. No court dates have been set at this time.

YORK, Pa. — As a robbery suspect, you probably shouldn't visit your alleged accomplice in prison.

Police arrested David Ruppert, 21, at the York County prison last week while he was visiting his friend, Robert Haley, charged in the same Oct. 3, 2001, armed robbery of a woman making a bank deposit.

On Jan. 15, West Manchester Township Detective Jeffrey Shell was checking addresses where Ruppert may have lived when he learned from an acquaintance of Ruppert that he might be visiting someone at the prison.

Snell immediately called the prison, confirmed Ruppert was there, and then told authorities to hold him until he arrived. Authorities say they Ruppert went to the prison to find out whether Haley was going to rat him out.

Rupert and Haley face a preliminary hearing on March 27 on charges of robbery, criminal conspiracy and weapons violations, according to a clerk at the York County district court.

WHITE BEAR, Minn.— For months, someone has been defecating near a water tower in this bucolic township. And local police can't take it any more.

Authorities have set up a motion detector and two floodlights in hopes of nabbing the midnight pooper. Exhausting all means possible, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department also assigned a deputy near the location and added extra patrol to the area.

Police are stumped as to the chronic culprit’s motives. Clues are scarce, except for soiled toilet papers and its substitutes. Given such evidence, however, authorities are certain that they are dealing with an evasive human, and not some stray animal.

A spokesman for the sheriff’s department declined to elaborate on the investigation.