<div><p>We've shared lots of stories that prove <a href="https://www.shared.com/dog-threw-toddler-across-the-yard-but-he-did-it-to-save-her-life-2/" target="_blank">animals are just as smart as people</a>, but that's not always a good thing. While some animals want to <a href="https://www.shared.com/pit-bull-comes-to-the-rescue-of-a-cat-during-a-vicious-coyote-attack/" target="_blank">use their brains for good</a>, there are others who just get into trouble, and when you're dealing with a wild animal that's just as smart as you there's no telling how much chaos they can cause.</p><p>The macaque monkeys at Indonesia's Uluwatu temple are a perfect example. For years tourists have flocked to see the temple, which is over 1,000 years old and sits on the top of a 200 foot cliff.</p><p>But the clever locals who have adapted to the crowds with ticket booths and snack shacks aren't the only ones taking advantage of <a href="https://www.shared.com/man-annoys-lion-on-safari-gets-an-instant-dose-of-karma/" target="_blank">clueless tourists</a>.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/M2.JPG" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/M2_GH_content_550px.JPG 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Bali-Temples-Uluwatu1.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Bali-Temples-Uluwatu1_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>The temple's monkeys have earned a reputation as very clever, tiny bandits. They love to steal hats off of tourists' heads, along with food and drinks, cameras, and even wads of cash.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/monkey-forest.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/monkey-forest_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>But researchers have discovered these monkeys aren't just petty thieves - they're criminal masterminds who hold your designer sunglasses for ransom until they get a snack.</p><p>Scientists have even dubbed them the "monkey mafia," and caught them red-handed on video.</p><p><strong>Click to the next page to see how these monkeys do it!</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>Dr. Fany Brotcorne, the research project's lead scientist, studied the Uluwatu monkeys for months to learn how they pull off their heists. She says that older monkeys teach their children and new arrivals at the temple how to con the human visitors.</p><p>The monkeys target "non edible" prizes, then refuse to let go until they get a piece of fruit or a cracker. Tourists aren't in on the scam, so temple staff feed the monkeys instead.</p><p>"Bartering and trading skills are not well known in animals," Brotcorne <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2132748-monkey-mafia-steal-your-stuff-then-sell-it-back-for-a-cracker/" target="_blank">said</a>. </p><p>"They are usually defined as exclusive to humans," so this research reveals monkeys may be a lot smarter than we give them credit for.</p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="PJpCD3Z3z9g"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>Brotcorne says that young male monkeys are the worst offenders, and they even targeted <strong>her</strong> while she was studying their bad behavior.</p><p>"The monkeys were always trying to steal my hat, my pen, even my research data," she said.</p><p>Hopefully local police start cracking down on these furry thieves. Although some tourists probably visit Uluwatu just to see the little scamps, and maybe even have their camera stolen by them for fun.</p><p><strong>Share these clever animals with someone you know!</strong></p><p>[H/T: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2132748-monkey-mafia-steal-your-stuff-then-sell-it-back-for-a-cracker/" target="_blank">New Scientist</a>]</p></div>