Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/06/02/281779/Deaf_inmate_ran_theft_ring_from_prison_cell.htm
SHANGHAI police arrested 13 members of a pickpocket ring earlier this year that was allegedly run from behind bars by a deaf, mute inmate in Jiangxi Province, they announced yesterday.
Police allege the gang members, all of whom are deaf mutes, were responsible for more than 73 thefts on public buses in Shanghai since last June.
The gang was allegedly run by Wang Weidong, 40, who is doing a life sentence for manslaughter. Police wouldn't say what charges, if any, they would file against Wang.
Wang allegedly communicated with his subordinates by sign language during their visits to his prison. The use of sign language made it difficult for prison guards to monitor what Wang and his visitors were talking about, police said.
The ring members, who were all arrested by the Shanghai Public Transport Police Bureau on January 10, moved to Shanghai and allegedly began pickpocketing on buses last June.
Police believe eight of them were directly involved in the thefts, while the others were involved in selling the stolen goods, moving money and other tasks.
Police said the gang rented an apartment in Yangpu District and used it as the headquarters for their organization.
"The deaf and mute pilferers' ring follows a strict discipline of their own. The members submitted all the valuables and cash they stole every day to their leaders. The money was then transferred to a bank account in Jiangxi Province and the members would receive their due incomes at the end of the year," said police officer Dai Min.
"We found they kept very detailed books of how much they stole every day. These materials actually provided us with important clues in the investigation," Dai said.
Following the arrests, Shanghai police tracked down the gang's bank account in Jiangxi, which had more than 100,000 yuan (US$12,500) in it.
More than 60,000 yuan of that money, as well as several cell phones and other valuables, was returned yesterday to 73 people who had previously reported thefts.
Police are still looking for other victims of the gang.
"I could hardly believe it when the police called me to take my money back. I thought I would never get it back. So it's a super surprise," said a middle-aged woman surnamed Pan who lost 1,700 yuan on a bus last October.
"We hope the victims of theft will report to nearby police stations immediately. If you do not alert the police, there is almost no hope of getting your property back. Besides, reporting theft is important since it provides information for us to dealing with thieves," said Dai.
SHANGHAI police arrested 13 members of a pickpocket ring earlier this year that was allegedly run from behind bars by a deaf, mute inmate in Jiangxi Province, they announced yesterday.
Police allege the gang members, all of whom are deaf mutes, were responsible for more than 73 thefts on public buses in Shanghai since last June.
The gang was allegedly run by Wang Weidong, 40, who is doing a life sentence for manslaughter. Police wouldn't say what charges, if any, they would file against Wang.
Wang allegedly communicated with his subordinates by sign language during their visits to his prison. The use of sign language made it difficult for prison guards to monitor what Wang and his visitors were talking about, police said.
The ring members, who were all arrested by the Shanghai Public Transport Police Bureau on January 10, moved to Shanghai and allegedly began pickpocketing on buses last June.
Police believe eight of them were directly involved in the thefts, while the others were involved in selling the stolen goods, moving money and other tasks.
Police said the gang rented an apartment in Yangpu District and used it as the headquarters for their organization.
"The deaf and mute pilferers' ring follows a strict discipline of their own. The members submitted all the valuables and cash they stole every day to their leaders. The money was then transferred to a bank account in Jiangxi Province and the members would receive their due incomes at the end of the year," said police officer Dai Min.
"We found they kept very detailed books of how much they stole every day. These materials actually provided us with important clues in the investigation," Dai said.
Following the arrests, Shanghai police tracked down the gang's bank account in Jiangxi, which had more than 100,000 yuan (US$12,500) in it.
More than 60,000 yuan of that money, as well as several cell phones and other valuables, was returned yesterday to 73 people who had previously reported thefts.
Police are still looking for other victims of the gang.
"I could hardly believe it when the police called me to take my money back. I thought I would never get it back. So it's a super surprise," said a middle-aged woman surnamed Pan who lost 1,700 yuan on a bus last October.
"We hope the victims of theft will report to nearby police stations immediately. If you do not alert the police, there is almost no hope of getting your property back. Besides, reporting theft is important since it provides information for us to dealing with thieves," said Dai.