Editing Jacques Mesrine (section)

==Public Enemy No. 1==
Mesrine's next exploit occurred in November 1978. It was a daring attempt to kidnap a judge (who had sentenced him) as part of a campaign to get maximum security prisons closed. His accomplice was captured but Mesrine escaped by running downstairs past several policemen telling them "Quick! Mesrine's up there!"  A young policeman posted outside was found handcuffed to a drainpipe weeping. On 21 June 1979, Mesrine kidnapped millionaire real estate mogul Henri Lelièvre and received a ransom of six million francs.<ref name="Carey Schofield 1981"/>

Mesrine made good copy for the press, clowning for the camera and asserting that his criminal activity was politically motivated.

[[Jacques Tillier]] (a former [[Directorate of Territorial Security]] policeman) had written disparagingly about Mesrine in the French far-right newspaper ''[[Minute (French newspaper)|Minute]]'' but on 10 September 1979, he went, rather incautiously, to a clandestine meeting with Mesrine on the promise of an interview. The incensed Mesrine had other plans: he shot Tillier in the face, leg and arm. Tillier survived the ordeal, although he lost the use of one arm.  During his contact with Mesrine, Tillier discovered the identity of Mesrine's accomplice.<ref name="Carey Schofield 1981"/>