If you're going to embark on a criminal lifestyle full of sketchy behavior and illegal activity, there's pretty much only one rule you have to follow: don't get caught.

As it turns out, though, some people can't even manage that.

Emily Lock, a 22-year-old woman from Caerphilly in Wales, recently got herself busted after traveling the world and living the life of a Kardashian... all while she was supposedly only earning £10,000 ($14,200) a year.

Lock first entered into the life of crime when she settled down with her boyfriend, 27-year-old Mark Price. And, for a more than a year, it all seemed to be going swimmingly.

He took her on holiday to the United Arab Emirates, Spain, France and the Netherlands; he bought her all kinds of luxuries from designer brands such as Chanel, Christian Louboutin, and Louis Vuitton; and - perhaps most appealing of all - he whisked her away from her mundane life as a shop assistant.

Unfortunately, it all came crashing down when some people noticed that Lock's social media posts appeared to show her spending just a tad more than her means.

After doing a little digging into Lock's and Price's personal lives, the police put two and two together and figured that the couple had been raking in a ton of cash via illegal means. In fact, after raiding Price's home in September last year, officers found a bag containing 110g of cocaine, and messages on his phone which suggested that the man had been making around £1,600 ($2,270) per week by dealing drugs.

A further search of Lock's home turned up approximately £50,000 ($71,000) in goods that had been purchased using criminally-acquired money - but the 22-year-old claimed she had no idea that her boyfriend was a criminal. When questioned by the police on the matter, she even tried to convince them that she thought he was a builder.

That being said, she did eventually admit to having spent the money, and pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property.

Ironically, Lock's lawyer said that his defendant was actually in the second year of a criminology degree at the time the crimes took place, and that she had hoped to work for the Probation Service after graduation.

PC Michael Coles, the officer in charge of the case, said:

"I hope the sentences issued to these individuals highlight that the supply of controlled drugs will not be tolerated in Caerphilly. These people endanger our community and this lengthy investigation shows we are committed to using all powers and resources available to bring them before the courts.

"I hope this sends a message to those who continue to be involved in the supply of controlled drugs, that you will not just be prosecuted, we will also use our powers to seize any financial assets you have acquired through criminality."

Three other people were also arrested and charged in connection with the crime, but Lock got off with the lightest charge because she could not be directly linked to the possession or supplying of class A drugs. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while Price received seven years behind bars.

It sucks getting caught redhanded. In the movies, criminal masterminds team up to pull off a heist, and everything runs so smoothly. The plan is meticulous, the timing impeccable, and they have access to amazing technological gadgets. Sure, something might go wrong, but they're so skilled at improvising they still pull off the caper. Meanwhile, in real life, they'd screw up and get busted within minutes.

In merry old England, a young man appeared to get caught stealing a Class B drug on live TV. KMTV reporter Cameron Tucker was filming a story in the quiet, countryside village of Hoath, Kent. In one of the thatched cottages, a couple - Neil Hartley, 45, and Yvette Hartley, 48 - had been arrested for growing marijuana. Police discovered 88 cannabis plants in their home, a value of £500,000 ($675,000).

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As Tucker describes the case, a young man walks out from behind a neighboring house, holding a suspicious green plant. When he sees the camera, he immediately makes a break for it, running down the sidewalk. At the same time, Tucker turns to look at the Hartley's cottage. He makes the gesture at the perfect moment, spotting the alleged cannabis thief just like we do. The young man is caught red-handed - or should we say green-handed?

While the reporter looks a bit confused, but doesn't break, continuing with his copy. (What a pro!) Unfortunately, the video cuts off too quickly for us to see if he had a bigger reaction. I expected to him to crack up laughing, and say "Did that really happen?"

Metro reports that Kent Police "are aware of the clip but are not aware of any crimes being committed." And of course we are unable to confirm that the plant the young man carried was marijuana. It's possible the he was swiping a cannabis plant from the Hartleys' house, and it's also possible he was playing a prank, running by the reporter holding a plant that looked like weed. But whether the stunt was staged or not, it's still pretty hilarious.

If the young man really did steal a marijuana plant, he's lucky to get away, after a serious case of "wrong place, wrong time." In America, weed is legal in multiple states, but in England, it is still very much illegal. Neil and  Yvette Hartley pleaded guilty to producing the drug in Canterbury Court. They narrowly avoided prison time by being given a 22-month sentence, suspended for two years. They were also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work, and remain at home under a 12-week nighttime curfew.

Well, this young man probably won't get called up to help with a Mission Impossible or Ocean's Eleven-type heist. Checking to make sure the coast is clear is beginning thief stuff. But he might get called up if Snoop Dogg does a concert in Hoath, Kent, because clearly, he's got the plug.

A man from the UK has been handed a 25-year prison sentence in Dubai after police in the Middle Eastern city found four bottles of vape liquid containing CBD in the trunk of his vehicle, The Guardian reports.

Billy Hood, 24, of Kensington, London, was convicted of trafficking, selling, and possessing drugs after he was allegedly compelled by authorities to confess in Arabic, which he does not speak.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was "giving consular support to a British man who has been imprisoned in the UAE".

In Britain, and in many other parts of the world, CBD is a legal substance, however, in the United Arab Emirates, it is illegal as it contains trace elements of THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana.

As the oils were purchased in the UK, Hood, who is a soccer coach by profession, was handed a trafficking charge.

In a statement made via the campaign organization Detained in Dubai, Hood insisted he was not aware that the oils were in the trunk but supposes they were put there by a friend from the UK who had visited some weeks earlier.

Hood, who played semi-professional soccer for Kensington and Ealing Borough FC, also recalled being approached by law enforcement outside his home, asking to search his home and car for illegal substances.

He said: "I was shocked, scared, and confused. I told them I wasn’t aware or in possession of any drugs or substances."

When the CBD oil was discovered, Hood said he was kept in isolation for two weeks without any hygiene products. After a week, he was told that he would be facing a second prosecution.

Despite Hood's conviction, he maintained that he has a "zero tolerance" stance on drugs, telling his lawyers in a statement: "I coach football six to seven days a week. I am always working with kids and in schools all over Dubai.

"From age 16, I played football at a professional level for more than two years. I have always had a zero-tolerance on any drugs or illegal substances.

"For me to be accused of promoting and selling drugs in a country that has the same beliefs and values as me is very upsetting."

His family is working with Detained in Dubai and lawyers in the city to appeal against his convictions.

They have also set up a GoFundMe page to cover the legal costs of their endeavors and have raised £14,127 ($19,000) at the time of writing.

Hood's mother, Breda, described the experience as "the worst stress I have ever been through".

She said: "He’s always been such a good boy and has never been troublesome. He helps out children, coaches, and volunteers. He’s never been into drugs, ever … My son does not deserve to lose his whole life over CBD oil that wasn’t even his."

Featured image credit: Alamy / Urbanmyth