Suspect Suspect ◆In the video still, Qu (the standing one) is taking the laptop of a passenger sitting next to him. Photo provided by the police. As long as there are these elements, plus a sleeping passenger on the bus, someone can "transform" a laptop into a magazine. The Shenyang police recently cracked a series of laptop thefts on long-distance buses. After waking up on a long-distance bus, a passenger found his laptop had been switched. Before New Year's Day this year, Lu Ping (a pseudonym), who lives in Huanggu District of Shenyang City, took a large bus from Tieling to Shenyang. After boarding, he placed his laptop on the luggage rack opposite the aisle where he could see it. When he woke up, they were near Huigong Square, and Lu Ping got off with what he thought was his laptop. After getting home, when he opened the laptop bag, Lu Ping was shocked: his 8000-yuan laptop had vanished, and the bag was filled with magazines. "It's over, it was switched," he immediately reported the incident to the police. The Public Transport (Metro) Division of the Shenyang Public Security Bureau reviewed similar cases and discovered that from the second half of last year to January this year, there were more than ten such thefts on long-distance buses within the province, leading them to believe it was the work of the same group of suspects. This case was listed as the "287 Series" theft case by the Shenyang Public Security Bureau, confirming habitual offenders Zhao, Qu, and Wang as major suspects. Recently, Zhao, Qu, and Wang gathered at a hotel in Dadong District. Disguised as hotel staff, the officers arrested Zhao and Qu when they checked out, confiscating two laptops on the spot. Here's how the criminal gang "collaborated": Suspect Qu, 39 years old, from Kaiyuan City, Tieling, has two previous convictions for theft and mainly takes responsibility for carrying out the thefts. Qu explained that the three specifically targeted privately operated large buses where passengers don't sit according to their seat numbers. He carried a computer bag filled with magazines. When they saw a passenger with a laptop board the bus, all three would buy tickets for the same bus and follow them on board. Qu would sit right next to the target passenger, Zhao would sit near the laptop bag, and Wang would sit towards the back of the bus to keep watch. While the passenger slept, Qu would get up and switch the laptop with the magazines, thus stealing the passenger's laptop. "The prepared magazines weigh the same as the laptop, making it hard for passengers to notice when they get off," Qu said. During the theft, Zhao and Wang would look around, giving a signal with their eyes or coughing if the passenger moved even slightly. In urgent situations, they would call to alert each other. The trio usually chose to get off just before the passengers woke up or arrived at the station. "If we get off too late, we won’t be able to escape if discovered," they explained. Over the past six months, the three used the same method to steal laptops on more than ten occasions on long-distance buses within the province. Zhao mentioned that out of ten attempts, they succeeded three to four times. "If the passenger notices, we just say sorry, we picked up the wrong item." The police introduced that since 2009, this theft gang also committed 17 bag snatchings in various malls and hotels in Shenyang, involving nearly a million yuan in stolen goods. Police reminder: Key areas for theft prevention: waiting halls, long-distance bus stations ticket offices, shopping areas within the station, luggage compartments (luggage racks), etc. Key times for theft prevention: pickpockets often choose times when passengers are resting to commit thefts, such as between 5-7 am, 1-2 pm, and after 10 pm; some pickpockets take advantage of the time when passengers are fetching or placing luggage before getting off to commit thefts, allowing them to quickly escape. Theft prevention tips: 1. While riding, keep your items within sight. Most people get drowsy after 20-30 minutes of travel, so hold valuable items in your arms instead of placing them on the luggage rack. If traveling in a group, take turns resting. 2. In the waiting hall, number your luggage and place it in front of your line of sight. When going to the dining car or temporarily getting off midway, always carry valuable items with you. Do not eat or drink food and beverages offered by strangers. 3. When purchasing tickets or shopping inside the station, prepare the money beforehand and use small change to avoid opening your luggage to find money. Never expose valuable items. 4. For travelers with password locks, do not use simple repeated digits for your password to avoid being easily deciphered. 5. People carrying large amounts of cash should keep the cash in their inner clothing pockets rather than in luggage. 6. At each stop, when people are getting on or off, promptly check whether your belongings are safe. Reporter Gong Xue ◆Qu: Mainly responsible for carrying out thefts. Carries a computer bag filled with magazines, sits close to the target passenger, and switches the laptop with magazines while the passenger sleeps. Zhao: Sits near the laptop bag. Wang: Sits towards the back of the bus. During Qu’s theft, the two look around, signaling with their eyes or coughing if the passenger moves, or calling to alert each other. Photos of the suspects taken by reporter Gong Xue. ◆In the video still, Qu (the standing one) is taking the laptop of a passenger sitting next to him. Photo provided by the police. Share to: Welcome to post comments I want to comment Microblog recommendation | Today's microblog hotspots