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Q: What's with all this theft? Mate's bike stolen every 5 min. Wife's phone knocked off twice.
Wife's had two phones stolen past two weeks. Step-daughter one in the same time. Top student also had phone stolen two weeks ago. All phones that cost more than average two months salary.
Bloke in another post has lamented that he's had 5 or 6 bikes stolen.
I had several thousand RMB stolen from me by my school's financial manager and after much debate the best concession I could get was that there had been a "misunderstanding".
So, what's the story? Are Chinese people shocking thieves? People who just aren't to be trusted?
Chinese people are ultra-materialistic.
Chinese people don't feel a sense of responsibility towards people they don't know.
Lying isn't considered shameful in China.
Trustworthiness (like most positive traits) is considered a weakness or form of retardation.
I filled in as a tutor for a rich Hong Kong guy just for one week while his normal tutor was on holiday. When my employer accidentally over-paid me by 800 RMB, I told him so and gave him the money. My girlfriend was like "WTF! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
I am a happy person because I don't have lying and cheating on my conscience. There is no way you can ever buy the mental well-being and sense of peace and clarity that being honest gives you. Few Chinese people ever realise this, or that they have a subconscious.
Oh, and Chinese police don't investigate petty theft.
Just got to be a little careful. I find in a country where cheating and lying is so rampant... people are also extremely careless.
In seven years, I have never had anything stolen. Only one school(that I used to work with) tried to withhold my vacation pay but I withheld tests and they gave in.
But I am ultra-careful and try not to rush into crowded places like buses and prefer the taxi. I know it SEEMS like you may be savings money but when you get your wallet or phone ripped off... in the long run a taxi or investing in a motorcycle is better.
royceH:
So, shocking thieves and untrustworthy people surround you. And you don't trust them. Sigh.... It really is 'every man for himself' here, isn't it.
I'm gunna see if I can change them!
This is my advice for phones:
http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Hybrid-Case-Protector/dp/B0071AQNVW
Do you see these rubbery case holders? They're ugly, but they protect your phone. Wear tight pants and use these cases. When people try to put their hands into your pocket, they'll be unable to pull the phone out. You'll easily be able to stop them (I have). Yeah, it's hard to pull it out from your pockets, but they won't be stolen unless you're knocked out or you let someone do it.
It also protects your phone from some pretty crazy drops.
Paulberger:
so the reason why hulk's clothes are always ripped when he turns green isn't because his muscles bulge, it is because he wears tight clothes to protect from thieving chinese...
dom87:
my wallet is so big (full of cards and stuff, not money lol) i can barely get it out of my pant in 1 minute myself so i guess i m pretty safe against thieves
ROBK is right. it isn't just that they steal a lot, but the chinese are very careless with their belongings. i grew up in california and was taught to always keep an eye on my stuff. i am constantly amazed at what my chinese friends do sometimes. we will all go out to dinner, and they will leave their wallets, phones, purses, etc. at the table to walk somebody out. i always stay behind to watch their belongings. they always make fun of me and say "china is a harmonious society." then i say "how many of you have had things lifted or swiped from you." then the girlfriend gives me a dirty look and i stop talking...
Traveling around in different countries has made me aware of the necessity of securing my property.
Here in China, as with all other countries, it is difficult for me to take things like purse or phone out of my bag. I do this on purpose because my theory is, if it takes me a few minutes to get some cash out, then it will be equally, or more difficult for someone else. Also i have the habit of watching personal items when at dinner.
To date i have only lost minor items, such as gloves or umbrella. But this was due to my own carelessness. (touch wood).
Keep in mind that this is an annual occurence leading up to Spring Festival. People want/need money and will do anything to get it.
Iron_Monkey:
Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Sinobear actually knows what's going on.
It's true, Chinese New Year is closing in and the thieving sky rockets in the weeks prior to spring festival.
I've had stuff stolen from me in China as much as Mexico. When people have very little, you just take it from the people who have more. This is a universal thing.
What gets me is certainly being lied to. I do business with one company whose main selling agent changed companies. Her old company e-mailed me that "she has been assigned to other duties." As a matter of fact, she is now trying to get me to buy from her at the other company.
One student of mine overpaid me 500 yuan a few days ago. I took those 500 back from the envelope and gave them back to him. I looked at his face and he looked like a man who had just won the lottery- shocked.
All of us of equal ethics need to look for those who do the same. They exist. My Chinese boss trusts my honesty and that I will deliver the work. It gives her free time not to focus on me and instead focus on other places. Conversely I've gotten more work and less supervision from her.
Since being here- I trust NO ONE. And I have to know someone well for some time before I can trust them in a small thing. Bigger things come with time, if at all.
I've never got 'blackened' in China. Problems of similar matter occurred only with the taxis, buTT.....that's cheating. I'd rather walk, than taxi in China.
My 'blow' is HK$175 Nokia, and my bike is so expensive, I (will) park it only in my home, not too far away from my flip-flops, doesn't matter which country.
Last month, milk-woman made mistake, when returning change. Instead 6 Rmb, she returned 17 Rmb. I showed her, she made mistake, and she took 11 Rmb. I see her twice a week. Later I realise, woman isn't literate.
You can tell, I 'trust' everybody!
Everywhere!
icnif77:
'Who's on 5th?' Raymond 'Rainman' Bobbit…. I am on the bottom. With the garden. And feral male cat. 
Never ever got things stolen in China in 3 years. But then, it's after a long experience in Vietnam, where I've been stolen several bikes and shoes. It taught me a few things
* 6th sense on where to put my bike : where there are a lot of others bikes.
* bike should not look different from local's bikes. Better, paint it in shitty brown.
* My phone is a 70 RMB plastic brick
Compared to others places I've been living, I don't feel there's more petty theft in China than other place with similar level of life. There's a lot of thing to critic about China, but this, honestly... I do see in the news some face-palm-inducing, hare-brained theft attempts, but read news in other countries, you will see the same in quantity.
MissA:
I only had one thing stolen in Vietnam and that was my gym bag. I'd gone to the gym and worked out hard, then I went to to work, then to a bar and gave a friend a lift home, with my gym bag strapped to the bike - my gym clothes had, after I sweated up a storm, sat outside in 35 degree temps for about eight hours. I went inside for two minutes, came back and the bag was gone. All my cash and stuff was in a small purse I was carrrying, so it was fine.
I always get a huge laugh imagining the guy/girl opening up the bag.... "f*ck yeah, got the rich white girl's bag, let's see what's inside. Money? Phone? Passport?AAAAAAAAAHHHHH"
icnif77:
Maybe, thief took it because of the smell? 'Wild animals' come to my mind….as possible culprit.
DrMonkey:
Each place have a logic of its own. In Hanoi, Vietnam, I had nice military rangers shoes, great quality, good as new, which I used to trek in the mountains. One night, after washing & polishing my rangers, I put them at the door step so that they can dry. The gate and the walls of the home were really high, covered of broken glass, so I did not have any worries.
Morning, the shoes were gone ! I loved those shoes. After a few minutes of meditation and cursing, I got a flash of inspiration. I drove my motorbike near the train station, where there are shops selling army surplus items. And guess what, I saw my shoes, same serial number and all :p The seller would not admit those were stolen shoes, but he did not realize the real price of such shoes. I bought back my shoes for a token price (ie. 5% of their actual price).
I am not one to defend the habits of Chinese people, but.... i would say it probably going to far to attack the Chinese people for theft. Im positive that if they US or Canada for example had this many people, everyone would be walking around naked cuz theyre damn shirts would get ripped off their backs.
In Jamaica, a room cleaner swiped my phone my womans make up and my shorts?? No joke, Got that back, said it all blew out the window and they found it on the ground floor...... undamaged.
On a trip to South America I had a digital camera stolen in each, Peru, Equador and Colombia.
Yet, it China, I have forgotten my ipad and phone for a full 12 hours in a Net Cafe charging, ran back to see it sitting there, I have never had my car broken into, even though im one of those dumb asses that leaves cash in the front for parking. And my wallet has been safe, my apartment has never had anything swiped.
Im not careful, im just lucky. but..... if your here long enough its going to happen eventually. I got drunk and someone took my phone, although i could have left it somewhere and forgotten.
Just a sensible reminder that just because something crappy happens doesnt mean this country is crap, it could mean the world is crap.....
But usually its China haha
Urumqi was shocking for it - perhaps this is a Xinjiang problem, royce?
royceH:
Well, just ask any Han person who's responsible for anything that gets knocked off and they'll tell you it was the Uyghirs. There is NO trust between these two groups at all. Zero. And the pot continues to bubble away....
Just remembered I left my 90 kuai water bottle on a table in a little mian joint a few weeks ago and when I went back looking for it an hour later it was still there, right where I left it. A Hui place.
royceH:
Hey Miss! You going to the cricket this week? Australia are chasing some rare history. How's the Sydney weather looking?
FYI, it's minus 23 here today. Cool huh!
MissA:
Yeah, just don't ask the Uyghurs what they think if you have any plans at all for the rest of that day...
I loved the Hui restaurants, they were some of the coolest places and nicest people. I ate all the time at a tiny Hui place owned by the nicest family. As soon as they saw me coming up the street, they'd start plating up my favourite meal.
Jury's out on the cricket actually. A friend was meant to be organizing the tickets, but hasn't gotten his shit together.
icnif77:
How 'shocking'? Did they 'break and enter' or 'pick-pocket'?
Taxis seem fairly honest in the city. They turn on the meter, and things.
In my experience theft increase just before Spring Festival and National Holiday in OCT. These are the big travel home holidays where people returning to hometown are expected to come bearing money and gifts. Ebikes, ebike batteries, laptops, phones, are easily sold on the black market for extra cash.
Lotta people are struggling for spare change, what can you expect? I learnt a long time ago, leave your zipper open, someone's gonna steal your underpants. Only time i've ever had anything stolen was in Yangshuo, and it was someone who'd been invited to a party at my place. Got my revenge though.
mArtiAn:
I figured out who the culprit was, then when sitting with a group of about seven of us, with him at the table, I pointed out to the group that I knew who it was, to see his reaction. As expected it was nervous, but I figured that straight out accusing him wouldn't work so I explained that I knew it was a rat. A rat whose mother and father were rats and whose children would be rats. Laid it on really thick, watching him the whole time until he snapped, slammed his hand down on the table, and shouted "No!" to which I stared directly at him and smiled. He of course had nothing he could say and immediately got up and stormed off. Nobody had the faintest idea why, and I didn't feel the need to tell them, i just let it go after that. Felt sweet though.
Two phones in two weeks? Dude, keep your phone in your pocket or whatever...
I had my PSP stolen from my house in Hebei. Probably my fault for inviting the Chinese guy back.
I've never had anything stolen in England.
Chinese people have no morals.
royceH:
Not my phone, Rin. It's just a phone and no one would bother even if they had the chance. No, these 4 phones all nicked over the past fortnight were ladies' phones. Perhaps you can identify with the problems woman have with their phones?
JustinF:
Because British people have morals when they go around the world raping everyone, enslaving them, drugging them, stealing their wealth and lands, and murdering them? Puhhlease...
I had my phone stole, my GF had 2 sets of batteries and her Collie ripped off. We have thieves at home, mostly scum that have nothing to do all day but scheme. I look at all the people in China and percentage wise there have to be more thieves. Many people just don't have money and have to make a living, hey it's a life style.
I am usually always on guard against thieves. I expect that everyone is going to try to rip me off every time, and I walk around looking pissed off 24/7.
Had someone try to rip me off in Hubei. I stared at them emotionlessly for a minute until they turned around and walked off.
Had a girl try to rob my pockets in Changsha, but I grabbed her hand and ripped it out of my pocket, and yelled at her. Nobody said a thing.
Had another little Hunan girl and her "handler" try to distract my wife and steal her stuff. The guy was following us around, but I made my wife stop at the corner store with me, and we turned around and glared at them until they walked off.
Expect it. Be paranoid. Paranoia is a virtue no matter where you are in the world.
