Petty Theft is not a Pretty Thing

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Petty Theft is not a Pretty Thing

Written by Robert Vance on March 7, 2008 – 3:35 am

It was a snowy, foggy day in Central China as I traveled on a minibus back to my hometown from the capital of the province. I had just dozed off when the bus slowed to a halt and a passenger disembarked. There would have been nothing unusual about his exit if it weren’t for the fact that we were in the middle of a super highway. My groggy eyes watched him walk towards the side railing and hop over it and head down a small embankment. As the bus accelerated, my eyes closed again and I thought nothing more of the strange stop in the middle of the highway. Later it would come back to haunt me.

It was three hours later while I was shopping when I discovered that my wallet was gone. In that instant, as I frantically searched all of my pockets, a sinking feeling came upon me as I realized that for the first time, I was penniless in China. That wallet had contained two credit cards, one bank card, my driver’s license, and 2000 RMB. Actually, it’s one of the worst feelings that I have ever had. I felt hopeless and helpless. It was also humbling, as I had to rely on some good friends to lend me money until I could get my bank and credit cards sent to me. They arrived about one month later, thanks to the interruption of Spring Festival in China.

I’m not telling you this story so that you’ll feel sorry for me. Afterall, it was my carelessness that allowed the thief to make off with the wallet. While I don’t exactly remember where I placed the wallet, I must have put it in a pocket that was easily accessible by other people sitting close to me. I think it was the guy who got off the bus in the middle of the highway who took it. Of course, I can’t be sure but with the payload that he found in my wallet (a lot for a Chinese Person), he probably couldn’t wait to get off the bus.

So why do I relate this story? I simply want to remind or inform you that the problem of petty theft is huge in China. Don’t fool yourself. No matter where you are in China, there is a strong possibility that a thief is “on duty” and you should always be attentive to where your things are. Most theft in China occurs without the victim knowing about it. Thieves are very good at “bumping” into people or quickly “slipping a hand” inside a pocket. Whenever you are out and about, you should keep the following pointers in mind:

1. Never keep your things in outside jacket pockets. If you are wearing a jacket, use the inside compartments to store your wallet, passport, and cellphone.

2. If you are not wearing a jacket, it is advisable to keep your things in your side pant pockets. Don’t use your backpockets as these are easy targets for thieves.

3. If you are walking in a large crowd of people, keep your hand on your things to make sure that they don’t go anywhere.

4. Purses with long straps are not advisable as they can be cut by a knife and grabbed.

5. Hold on tightly to your purse if you are in a crowded area. Thieves can slash the purse and grab the contents.

6. Don’t put “all your eggs in one basket.” Leave a backup bankcard and/or credit card at your place of living. Don’t carry your passport unless you think you will need it (especially on short trips to the grocery store, etc).

7. Make sure you are careful to not make a big show of your money. If you withdraw money from an ATM machine, put the money in a safe place before you turn around and leave. Don’t walk around with money hanging out of your hands and pockets.

8. Use common sense. Withdrawing money from an ATM machine in a secluded part of town at 2:00 in the morning is probably not advisable. Just remember that there is a good chance that you are being watched wherever you go and that being a foreigner insures that you stick out like a sore thumb.

Cell phones are very commonly stolen. Many of my friends have to buy new cell phones twice a year because of this problem. Make sure you know where your cell phone is at all times.

Looking back, I think I made a bigger deal out of being robbed that I needed to but at the time, it was a rather traumatic experience. It could happen to you no matter how careful you are. If it does, be prepared and realize that petty theft is a pretty normal part of living in China.

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