Shenzhen Pickpockets - a reminder

[MrMoo]

I am sorry but do you have any actual cases to support this statement? In the US there are Good Samaritan laws which aim to protect them.

There was a big hoohaa about a case that eventually got to court "recently", not about a mugging, but Samaritan providing assistance

Good Samaritan law may not apply - USATODAY.com

[MovingIn07]

is this stuff only happen in SZ? Will they also rob u (in front of everyone) anywhere else in China?

I think the issue is that Shenzhen has a huge influx of relatively wealthy people every day (us) who are often not as vigilant as we should be. Therefore, there is a huge opportunity for thieves and they flourish. While I'm sure there is crime in other places, without much opportunity it does not represent the revenue winner it does in places like Shenzhen and also places like Rome (huge tourist influx etc).

[MrMoo]

I think the issue is that Shenzhen has a huge influx of relatively wealthy people every day (us) who are often not as vigilant as we should be. Therefore, there is a huge opportunity for thieves and they flourish.

The whole Canton area is conducive to criminals due to the migrant population. Workers from all over China come for work and are often very young from isolated villages and as you say, not so vigilant. The workers here save up all their money to send home and so are prime targets for criminals, whether petty or organised.

This can easily become a serious problem around factory areas and many have their own private police force or simply finance the village police force to protect their workers.

The most impressive technique I have heard is using a knife to simply cut open a pocket or bag and sometimes replace with some other similar sized item. The victim has absolutely no idea until they get back to their hotel or try to pay at a restaurant.

[Football16]

This is strange. Just got this note saying this is closed but yet there are still posts on the thread!!! Quite frankly this thread seems to be a good reminder based on the comments. We need to take care everywhere but let's face it - Shenzhen is less safe than HK. I also read that Guangdong is experiencing an overall rise in petty crimes as people are out of work. Crime needs opportunity. We just need to reduce them when we travel.

While a crime is in progress, there is no good Samaritan provisions. It is the aid after injury or the event that is at play. There are some laws in some jurisdictions covering the duty to rescue but I am not sure this means you must intervene in a robbery for example other than to call the police and seek help.

The reality is that in North America, people would come to your rescue if they see something bad happening and they feel they can help. Not sure that culturally it exists here but my local friend says that people here would at least scream out to stop a robbery. There is a fine line between helping and getting killed trying to help. It is a tough call.

Now for great and cheaper coffee than Starbucks in SZ, go to this place:
http://www.ecoffee.com.tw/english/about.htm. It is in the mall adjacent to the SZ Metro in Luohu.


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Thread: Shenzhen Pickpockets - a reminder
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[gunsnroses]

What I find incredible is that these thieves act openly in the street. Check the video. See how the thief is trying to open the suitcase of the person walking? Other people look at the thief, but nobody does anything to stop the thief, or tell the guy walking that he is being robbed.

Nice society!

There are loads of thieves in Mumbai as well, but, they can never dare to do it this openly, knife or no knife. The thrashing they'll get from people walking by, would make them forget any skill they ever have.

[UK/HKboy]

While a crime is in progress, there is no good Samaritan provisions. It is the aid after injury or the event that is at play. There are some laws in some jurisdictions covering the duty to rescue but I am not sure this means you must intervene in a robbery for example other than to call the police and seek help.

The reality is that in North America, people would come to your rescue if they see something bad happening and they feel they can help. Not sure that culturally it exists here but my local friend says that people here would at least scream out to stop a robbery. There is a fine line between helping and getting killed trying to help. It is a tough call.

I think part of the reason is that cost/benefit between helping and getting killed.

In china, alot of the crime is organised (usually with triad groups) and helping a victim may mean a gang coming to gain revenge, especially for locals who are there everyday.

in north america and europe, most pick-pocket crimes are carried out by opportunistic individuals or small teams. if you confront them, they will most likely run away or shoot you. but you will also notice how this cost/benefit applies in inner city areas run by gangs. most passer-bys would not dare to stop a mugging by the gangs in New York or London.