The Week contest: Robo vac
This week's question: A North Carolina couple called the cops and cowered in a closet after hearing what they thought was a burglar in their home; it turned out the "intruder" was just their robot vacuum cleaner, which had gotten stuck and was banging against a wall. If Hollywood were to make a movie about a robo-vacuum cleaner that actually turns to crime, what title could it give the film?
Click here to see the results of last week's contest: Fake news
RESULTS:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
THE WINNER: "The Dirty Dyson"
Laurel Rose, Pittsburgh
SECOND PLACE: "My Life in Grime"
Joe Ayella, Wayne, Pennsylvania
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
THIRD PLACE: "Law & Order: Special Vacuums Unit"
Lloyd Grass, Fulton, Missouri
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
"Mean Sweeps"
Bill Levine, Belmont, Massachusetts
"Grime and Punishment"
Mary Ellen Helms, Morgan Hill, California
"The Usual Dust-specks"
Janine Witte, New Hope, Pennsylvania
"From Rugs to Riches"
Joe Frank, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Attachments: 11"
Robert Leighton, New York City
"Lock, Stock and Two Rotating Brushes"
Michael Greene, Cashiers, North Carolina
"The Clean Getaway"
Mary Jo Astrachan, Oneida, New York
"Without a Trace (Of Lint)"
Beth Simon, Oakland, California
"From Pickup to Stickup"
Darrel Tiler, Westfield, Wisconsin
"Crime Sucks"
Doug Johnston, Erie, Pennsylvania
"Obsuction of Justice"
Norm Carrier, Flat Rock, North Carolina
-
Farage’s £9m windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
-
The issue dividing Israel: ultra-Orthodox draft dodgersIn the Spotlight A new bill has solidified the community’s ‘draft evasion’ stance, with this issue becoming the country’s ‘greatest internal security threat’
-
Codeword: December 13, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted