Our reporter Wang Qiang and correspondent Huang Weiling - A financially comfortable, happily married "white-collar woman" working for a state-owned enterprise (SOE) was unable to control her "kleptomania", repeatedly stealing clothes from major malls in Beijing. Even during her release on bail, she continued to steal without hesitation. On July 27th, Zhang Mou, suspected of theft, was approved for arrest by the Haidian District Procuratorate.
The 40-year-old suspect, Zhang Mou, graduated from the well-known finance department of a certain financial university and then worked at an SOE. Her husband works in the power system, and they have a six-year-old daughter.
In January this year, Zhang was caught stealing two dresses from the Langzi counter at the Zhongyou Department Store in Xidan. She was subsequently released on bail after the incident. The two dresses were appraised at a value of RMB 2,580.
However, during her bail period, Zhang did not repent and continued to steal clothing under the guise of trying them on at places like Cuilai Building. When the shop assistants went to the warehouse to fetch goods, she would take the opportunity to steal clothes. Upon their return, Zhang would still request that the staff find more items for her and leave her phone number before departing.
Subsequently, the shop assistants discovered the theft and reported it to the police. Through the phone number provided, the police apprehended Zhang. During her bail period, Zhang stole items totaling nearly RMB 2,000.
It was learned that in 2009, Zhang had been detained by the public security authorities for theft but was not prosecuted by the Haidian Procuratorate due to the relatively small amount stolen. Zhang's husband mentioned that she often talks to herself and cries inexplicably, leading him to suspect that her mental health issues might be the cause of her thefts.
On July 20, 2010, the Forensic Psychiatry Appraisal Department of Beijing Huilongguan Hospital issued a "Judicial Appraisal Opinion Book," confirming that Zhang showed no signs of psychosis and possessed full criminal responsibility.
From her family's financial situation, it is clear that Zhang could afford the items she stole. However, Zhang confessed that she simply could not control her desire to steal. Such cases are not uncommon. In another theft case handled by the Haidian Procuratorate in May this year, the middle-aged suspect Xu Mou, who graduated from a prestigious university in Wuhan, had a husband who served as the secretary-general of a provincial office in Beijing, and a daughter studying at a university in Shanghai. Despite her background, Xu frequently stole from large supermarkets and piled the stolen items at home without using them.
According to prosecutors, currently, psychological factors such as "kleptomania" are not considered in the assessment of criminal charges under Chinese law. However, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate and Ministry of Public Security's "Regulations on the Application of Arrest Measures," "Suspects who intentionally commit new crimes during their bail period should be arrested." In this case, since Zhang committed theft again during her bail period, the Haidian Procuratorate legally approved her arrest.
Prosecutors remind that being released on bail does not mean one is free from consequences. It is essential to comply with regulations and fulfill obligations; otherwise, one will inevitably face corresponding legal consequences.