Chart / Feng Minchao. After shopping in the mall, Li opened the BMW car lock and was about to leave. She had not even sat down when a gun was pressed against her head, and there was also a shiny knife at her waist... Li was robbed and lost more than 30,000 yuan.
In several months, many women in Changsha, Liuyang, and Shenzhen had similar experiences. After investigation by the Changsha police, three men who followed lone female car owners with guns were arrested. Yesterday, the Intermediate People's Court of Changsha held a trial for this case. In court, the three defendants kept their heads low and said they "regretted it." After deliberation, the court made a first-instance judgment: Lei and Zhu were sentenced to life imprisonment for robbery and illegal trading of firearms; Chen was sentenced to 12 years in prison for robbery.
This report is from Quan Xin of Hunan Daily, with correspondents Hu Linwei, Dai Rui reporting from Changsha. A Buick female car owner was robbed inside her car of over 30,000 yuan.
On March 12, 2010, at Xingwumingzuo Building, Buick owner Zhang parked her car and locked it with the remote control before entering the mall to shop.
Two hours later, as Zhang was getting into her car, just half her body was in, the passenger-side door suddenly opened, and a man entered, pressing a gun (a replica '64' pistol, identified as lethal) against her head. There was another man behind her with a shiny knife at her waist.
"I didn't dare to take any risks, so I could only do as he said, moved to the back seat, and closed the door," Zhang knew she had encountered a robbery. Inside the car, the two men took two mobile phones, 1500 yuan in cash, and after forcing her to reveal her password, they withdrew over 30,000 yuan.
At around 4 pm, the men stopped the car on Jiawei Road section of Third Ring Road and fled in a waiting vehicle.
In a hurry, Zhang called 110 to report the crime. The Changsha police established a special task force to investigate. During the investigation, a similar case occurred in Shenzhen where a lone female BMW owner was robbed of 70,000 yuan and over 100,000 Hong Kong dollars by several men with guns.
Subsequently, the police found that similar robberies had occurred in Changsha, Liuyang, and Shenzhen, all committed by the same group. The police linked multiple cases together and successively arrested the three suspects Lei, Zhu, and Chen in Shaoyang.
Lei, Zhu, and Chen are all in their 30s. They were prosecuted by the procuratorate for suspected robbery and illegal trading of firearms.
Yesterday morning, the Changsha Intermediate People's Court held a hearing for this case. Standing in court, the three defendants expressed no objection to the charges. During the trial, the three men kept their heads low, muttering "very regretful" and "regretting it."
"This gang operated very methodically, mostly staking out near banks and large malls. They would spy on lone female drivers in hidden places, and once they saw someone withdraw a large amount of cash, they would commit the crime when the victim got into her car," the judge said.
The indictment showed that from October 3, 2008, to April 2010, Lei, Zhu, Chen, along with Zhu and Song (both already sentenced), carried handguns, controlled knives, and other tools, and went to Changsha, Liuyang, Shenzhen, etc., holding the victims hostage in their cars while robbing them.
According to the specific criminal facts in the verdict, this gang committed crimes at the following locations: near the CITIC Bank at Tujia Chong Gas Station on Furong Middle Road in Changsha, around the China Construction Bank opposite the back gate of No.1 High School in Liuyang City, near Xingweixinjia Garden on Labor Road in Houjiatang, Changsha, at Xingwumingzuo Building in Yuhua District, Changsha, and near an Industrial and Commercial Bank on Fuhua Road in Futian District, Shenzhen. All the victims were lone female drivers, and the crimes occurred both during the day and at night.
Lei and Zhu participated in five robberies, stealing over 190,000 yuan and over 120,000 Hong Kong dollars; Chen participated in two robberies. After deliberation, the court announced the verdict on the spot: Lei and Zhu were sentenced to life imprisonment for robbery and illegal trading of firearms, and Chen was sentenced to twelve years in prison for robbery.
[Reminder]
Women driving alone should be more careful
The judge reminded that people driving alone, especially women driving alone, should be vigilant.
Before getting into the car, pay attention to whether there are suspicious people or vehicles around, and lock the car doors promptly after getting in; try not to park in secluded areas. Before getting out of the car in a quiet place, also pay attention to whether there are suspicious people or vehicles around, and if anything unusual is found, drive away immediately. If unexpectedly robbed, try to remain calm and respond. Report the incident as soon as possible afterward and provide as much useful information as possible, such as the license plate number, to help the police solve the case quickly and recover losses.
At the same time, the judge reminded that if citizens go to the bank to withdraw cash, it is best to go with two people, count the cash only on the counter, and avoid letting others see.
"Some people like to count money openly in the business hall, which is too ostentatious and can easily make them targets for criminals," the judge said. It is best to have family members or colleagues accompany you, paying attention to the surroundings and giving safety reminders from time to time. Keeping a distance from each other after withdrawing cash can effectively deter criminals and prevent robbery incidents.
It is understood that to effectively prevent incidents from happening, public security organs at all levels will further increase the visibility of police on the streets and strengthen patrols in key areas and roads during peak times.
Prevention tips
Women driving alone should avoid parking in secluded areas, check the surroundings before getting out of the car, and drive away immediately if anything unusual is found.
Pay attention to whether there are suspicious people or vehicles around before getting into the car, and lock the car doors promptly after getting in.
If unexpectedly robbed, try to remain calm and respond.
Report the incident as soon as possible afterward and provide as much useful information as possible, such as the license plate number.
1. Staking out at busy sections of malls, banks, or parking lots, following lone female car owners.
2. When the female car owner opens the car door to get in, rush up and force her into the car with a gun and a knife.
3. Threaten the car owner to drive away from the scene, rob the cash, and force her to reveal the bank card password.
4. Get out of the car and sit in the partner's car behind or take a taxi and leave.
[Warning]
Armed robbery carries a minimum sentence of 10 years
"The crime of robbery involves using violence, coercion, or other methods to rob public or private property, punishable by three to ten years in prison and a fine," the judge said. Armed robbery is a situation that warrants harsher punishment, requiring a sentence of over ten years.
The judge also said that besides armed robbery being a situation warranting harsher punishment, there are also situations such as robbing on public transportation, robbing banks or other financial institutions, multiple robberies or large amounts of robbery, causing serious injury or death through robbery, impersonating military or police personnel to rob, home invasion robbery, robbing military supplies or disaster relief materials.
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